Parameter Binding in ASP.NET Web API Decoding + (%2B) As Space

Question

Given the following method in a controller for a ASP.NET Web API:

[HttpGet]
[ApiRoute("resource/{id}/end-point)]
public IHttpActionResult MethodName (int id, string clientTimeZone)
{
     ...
}

Whenever I submit a GET request to http://localhost:5684/api/v1/resource/1/end-point?client_timezone=%2B0500 clientTimezone is passed in to clientTimeZone as %2B0500 and it parses the encoded '+' sign into a space character. Why can't ASP.NET decode +'s from the URI?

In the header I have "ContentType = application/json" and a bearer token

I am trying to get "+0500" into my method but it is turning into " 0500"

Are you sure %2B is being sent and not +? – ProgrammingLlama Apr 13 '18 at 15:34 — ProgrammingLlama, Apr 13 '18 at 15:34
Yes %2B is being sent in, not + – Nick Gallimore Apr 13 '18 at 17:56 — Nick Gallimore, Apr 13 '18 at 17:56

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 13 '18 at 19:55

3

Are you using Content-Type of application/x-www-form-urlencoded when consuming the api? This will treat a '+' character as a space when used in your URL.

More details here: When to encode space to plus (+) or %20?

Try changing your Content-Type to application/json instead and see if parameter binding behaves as expected.

answered Apr 13 '18 at 19:55

Anthony Greer

66
2

I went ahead and tried changing the content type, that didn't work – Nick Gallimore Apr 20 '18 at 17:10

Parameter Binding in ASP.NET Web API Decoding + (%2B) As Space

1 Answers1