Web API action method
A web API action method is a controller method associated with a matched HTTP request that processes it and produces a response.
ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e
An API controller action is a method on a web API controller that handles a request and produces an HTTP result.
- How it is used
- Handles HTTP requests in web API controllers and returns client-readable data or HTTP results.
- How deep it goes
- Works through controller setup, routing, return types, binding, and error conventions without implementing business logic inside the action.
- Examples
- Uses a fruit-list GET action and an id-based lookup that returns either a string or NotFound().
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch in ASP.NET Core using controller setup, routing attributes, and action return values.
Read how ASP.NET Core in Action, 3e explains web API action method →
Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition
A controller method that handles a matched request and contributes to producing its response.
- How it is used
- Handles matched HTTP requests as controller operations in a RESTful web service.
- How deep it goes
- Works through controller discovery, route and HTTP-method attributes, parameter binding, service access, and product operations; defers detailed validation treatment.
- Examples
- Uses product-list, product-lookup, and write actions, with Invoke-RestMethod requests against api/products.
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch as a controller action selected by URL and HTTP method, with bound inputs and a result.
Read how Pro ASP.NET Core 7, Tenth Edition explains web API action method →
Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core
An action method is a controller method that handles an HTTP request and produces an HTTP response.
- How it is used
- Handles HTTP requests inside controllers and organizes related API endpoints under shared conventions.
- How deep it goes
- Explains attributes, routing, return values, grouping, and delegation, but stops short of detailed request-pipeline internals.
- Examples
- Uses board-game listing, identifier lookup, deletion, text responses, optional query parameters, and gRPC wrapper actions.
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch by creating controllers, applying route and HTTP attributes, returning data, and configuring endpoint behavior.
Read how Building Web APIs with ASP.NET Core explains web API action method →
Related concepts
- RedirectToActionused by · RedirectToAction is a ControllerBase method that creates a redirection to a URL generated for a specified action method.
- controllerpart of · A controller is a software component or architectural role that receives inputs or requests and coordinates their handling by other parts of an application.
- endpointkind of · An endpoint is a network-accessible address or interface through which a service exposes a resource or operation and handles requests and responses.
- HttpGetconfigured by · HttpGet is an ASP.NET Core attribute that associates a controller action with HTTP GET requests and optionally specifies a route template.
- HTTP 404 errorproduces · An HTTP 404 Not Found response indicates that the server did not find a current representation of the requested resource or is unwilling to disclose that one exists.
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