StreamReader returns empty string

Question

I have the following code:

  System.Net.WebRequest req = System.Net.WebRequest.Create(url);
  req.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("admin", "password");
  System.Net.WebResponse resp = req.GetResponse();
  System.IO.StreamReader sr = new System.IO.StreamReader(resp.GetResponseStream());
  var result = sr.ReadToEnd().Trim();

When I run the code the result is just an empty string. However when I step through the code the result is a string with data in it, as I was expecting, when I put a breakpoint on this line:

System.Net.WebResponse resp = req.GetResponse();

So I think the problem lies with this or the subsequent line. Not sure how to proceed, help would be appreciated.

Looks OK to me. Are you sure the returned data is text? Also check the text encoding. — leppie, Feb 05 '13 at 11:09
Why are you using `Trim()`? Are you sure `Trim()` isn't eating the data? — Lloyd, Feb 05 '13 at 11:10
Normally the response stream blocks until all the data arrived. Try the same code with the HttpWebRequest and HttpWebResponse. — Loránd Biró, Feb 05 '13 at 11:25

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 20 '13 at 09:58

I came across a similar issue whilst using CopyToAsync() on a WebResponse, it turned out that the Stream's pointer was ending up at the end of the Stream (it's pointer position was equal to it's length).

If this is the case, you can reset the pointer before reading the contents of the string with the following...

var responseStream = resp.GetResponseStream();

responseStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);

var sr = new StreamReader(responseStream);
var result = sr.ReadToEnd().Trim();

Although, since you're reading the stream directly, and not copying it into a new MemoryStream, this may not apply to your case.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 05 '13 at 11:10

May be "req.GetResponse();" taking more time..... When your putting the break point its getting time to complete the task.

You need to check

resp.StatusDescription

before

System.IO.StreamReader sr = new System.IO.StreamReader(resp.GetResponseStream());

StreamReader returns empty string

2 Answers2