Send HTTP POST message in ASP.NET Core using HttpClient PostAsJsonAsync

I want to send dynamic object like

new { x = 1, y = 2 };

as body of HTTP POST message. So I try to write

var client = new HttpClient();

but I can't find method

client.PostAsJsonAsync()

So I tried to add Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.Extensions package to project.json and add

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Http.Extensions; 

to uses clause. However It didn't help me.

So what is the easiest way to send POST request with JSON body in ASP.NET Core?

Solution 1:

You should add reference to "Microsoft.AspNet.WebApi.Client" package (read this article for samples).

Without any additional extension, you may use standard PostAsync method:

client.PostAsync(uri, new StringContent(jsonInString, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json"));

where jsonInString value you can get by calling JsonConvert.SerializeObject(<your object>);

Solution 2:

I use this class:

public class JsonContent : StringContent
{
    public JsonContent(object obj) :
        base(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(obj), Encoding.UTF8, "application/json")
    { }
}

Sample of usage:

new HttpClient().PostAsync("http://...", new JsonContent(new { x = 1, y = 2 }));

Solution 3:

I would add to the accepted answer that you would also want to add the Accept header to the httpClient:

httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Clear();
httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Add(new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));

Solution 4:

Microsoft now recommends using an IHttpClientFactory with the following benefits:

• Provides a central location for naming and configuring logical HttpClient instances. For example, a client named github could be registered and configured to access GitHub. A default client can be registered for general access.
• Codifies the concept of outgoing middleware via delegating handlers in HttpClient. Provides extensions for Polly-based middleware to take advantage of delegating handlers in HttpClient.
• Manages the pooling and lifetime of underlying HttpClientMessageHandler instances. Automatic management avoids common DNS (Domain Name System) problems that occur when manually managing HttpClient lifetimes.
• Adds a configurable logging experience (via ILogger) for all requests sent through clients created by the factory.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/http-requests?view=aspnetcore-3.1

Setup:

public class Startup
{
    public Startup(IConfiguration configuration)
    {
        Configuration = configuration;
    }

    public IConfiguration Configuration { get; }

    public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
    {
        services.AddHttpClient();
        // Remaining code deleted for brevity.

POST example:

public class BasicUsageModel : PageModel
{
    private readonly IHttpClientFactory _clientFactory;

    public BasicUsageModel(IHttpClientFactory clientFactory)
    {
        _clientFactory = clientFactory;
    }
    
    public async Task CreateItemAsync(TodoItem todoItem)
    {
        var todoItemJson = new StringContent(
            JsonSerializer.Serialize(todoItem, _jsonSerializerOptions),
            Encoding.UTF8,
            "application/json");
            
        var httpClient = _clientFactory.CreateClient();
        
        using var httpResponse =
            await httpClient.PostAsync("/api/TodoItems", todoItemJson);
    
        httpResponse.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
    }

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/fundamentals/http-requests?view=aspnetcore-3.1#make-post-put-and-delete-requests

Solution 5:

If you are using .NET 5 or above, you can (and should) use the PostAsJsonAsync extension method from System.Net.Http.Json:

httpClient.PostAsJsonAsync(url, new { 
    x = 1, 
    y = 2 
});

If you are using an older version of .NET Core, you can implement the extension function yourself:

public static class HttpClientExtensions
{
    public static Task<HttpResponseMessage> PostJsonAsync(this HttpClient httpClient, string url, object body)
    {
        var bodyJson = JsonSerializer.Serialize(body);
        var stringContent = new StringContent(bodyJson, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json");
        return httpClient.PostAsync(url, stringContent);
    }
}