Returning dynamic key value collection in ASP.NET Web API

Question

I am developing an ASP.Net Web API project. In my project, I am trying to return JSON from action in this format.

{
  "Apple": null,
  "Microsoft": null,
  "Google": 'http://placehold.it/250x250'
}

As you can see in the JSON, it is key value pairs. Both key and value are dynamic. So I tried to return NameValueCollection from action to get that format. Here is my code:

public class CompaniesController : ApiController
{
    // GET api/<controller>
    public HttpResponseMessage Get()
    {
        NameValueCollection collection = new NameValueCollection();
        collection.Add("Microsoft", "microsoft.com");
        collection.Add("Google", "google.com");
        collection.Add("Facebook", "facebook.com");
        return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK, collection, "application/json");
    }
}

But then I access the action, it is returning the JSON like below.

As you can see, it is only returning Keys. Names are excluded. That is not the format I want. How can I fix my code to get name value pairs returned?

Estrella

Use Dictionary<string,object> – Ramsey

Thanks so much. it worked with Dictionary. Will you post answer? I want to upvote the answer. – Estrella

Answer 1

Use Dictionary<string, object> to add key value pairs.

public class CompaniesController : ApiController {
    // GET api/<controller>
    public HttpResponseMessage Get() {
        var collection = new Dictionary<string, object>();
        collection.Add("Microsoft", "microsoft.com");
        collection.Add("Google", "google.com");
        collection.Add("Facebook", "facebook.com");
        return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK, collection, "application/json");
    }
}

with application/json, the above will return

{
  "Microsoft": "microsoft.com",
  "Google": "google.com",
  "Facebook": "facebook.com"
}

Ramsey

hi how can I set result as json object with custom key "result" { "Microsoft": "microsoft.com", "Google": "google.com", "Facebook": "facebook.com" } – Hendry

@Hendry create a new anonymous object with result as property name. Using example above you would return new { result = collection } – Ramsey

@Hendry I added it as an answer to your last posted question. – Ramsey