How to tell apart by Web Api which method to use to return data

Question

I am new to asp.net Web Api. I create a simple Web Api App with a ValuesController

What will I get when I make a request :

api/values/5

when there are:

public string Get(int id) { }
public void Delete(int id) { }

methods in the controller.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Net;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Web.Http;

namespace my2ndWebApi.Controllers
{
    public class ValuesController : ApiController
    {
        // GET api/values
        public IEnumerable<string> Get()
        {
            return new string[] { "value1", "value2" };
        }

        // GET api/values/5
        public string Get(int id)
        {
            return "value";
        }

        // POST api/values
        public void Post([FromBody]string value)
        {
        }

        // PUT api/values/5
        public void Put(int id, [FromBody]string value)
        {
        }

        // DELETE api/values/5
        public void Delete(int id)
        {
        }
    }
}

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 23 '17 at 05:38

It depends on the HTTP Verb used when making the request.

A GET request to api/values/5 will match public string Get(int id)

A DELETE request to api/values/5 will match public void Delete(int id).

It is actually indicated in the comments of the sample code provided in the original question.

Reference Routing in ASP.NET Web API

How to tell apart by Web Api which method to use to return data

1 Answers1