How to use anonymous list as model in an ASP.NET MVC partial view?

Question

I have a list of Contact objects, from which, I just want a subset of attributes. So I used LINQ projection to create an anonymous list and I passed that to a partial view. But when I use that list in partial view, compiler says that it doesn't have those attributes. I tried the simplest case as follow, but still I have no chance to use an anonymous object or list in a partial view.

var model = new { FirstName = "Saeed", LastName = "Neamati" };
return PartialView(model);

And inside partial view, I have:

<h1>Your name is @Model.FirstName @Model.LastName<h1>

But it says that @Model doesn't have FirstName and LastName properties. What's wrong here? When I use @Model, this string would render in browser:

 { Title = "Saeed" }

Disparate

You've run into the often bemoaned and discussed subject of anonymous types having their properties declared internal, which leads to your scenario. A solution is offered at this link that does work. #5120817. Preferably however, you would have a concrete type to use for your view model, but this is an option. – Assonance

Same question pretty much here. Same answer as Khepri #4862622 – Motley

use @model dynamic – Repeat

Answer 1

Don't do this. Don't pass anonymous objects to your views. Their properties are internal and not visible in other assemblies. Views are dynamically compiled into separate dynamic assemblies by the ASP.NET runtime. So define view models and strongly type your views. Like this:

public class PersonViewModel
{
    public string FirstName { get; set; }
    public string LastName { get; set; }
}

and then:

var model = new PersonViewModel 
{ 
    FirstName = "Saeed", 
    LastName = "Neamati" 
};
return PartialView(model);

and in your view:

@model PersonViewModel
<h1>Your name is @Model.FirstName @Model.LastName<h1>

Fluoric

Is this still the case in latest versions of MVC - i.e. that anonymous objects are internal and not visible? – Abbasid

what about @model dynamic? – Repeat

@Darin does every view (cshtml) have their own assembly? – Alight

Answer 2

Use Reflection to get the values, preformance a bit slower, but no need ot create unnesasry models

Add next class to your application

public class ReflectionTools
{
    public static object GetValue(object o, string propName)
    {
        return o.GetType().GetProperty(propName).GetValue(o, null);
    }
}

in your view use next code

            @(WebUI.Tools.ReflectionTools.GetValue(Model, "Count"))

Hope that helps

Cunaxa

Using reflection to solve this problem is a horrible solution. It is costly and unnecessary and will lead to more problems down the road. – Iaria

That is 100% working solution, it answers how to work with anonymous objects, i would like to hear from you how to work with that in a correct way? – Cunaxa