ASP.NET MVC 5 routing optional parameters

Question

I've an Action in my ApiController that I want to invoke from a specific link, so I created this simple route

[Route("Rest/GetName/{name}")]
public IHttpActionResult GetName(string name) {
 // cut - code here is trivial but long, I just fill in an object to return as Json code
 return Json(myObject);
}

It works fine but I want to make the parameter optional. According to documentation adding a question point at the end of the parameter name in the route should be enough

[Route("Rest/GetName/{name?}")]

This way I get an error if I don't provide the optional parameter, so

.../Rest/GetName/AnyName --> ok
.../Rest/GetName/ --> error (see below)

{"Message":"No HTTP resource was found that matches the request URI 'https://localhost/miApp/Rest/GetName'.","MessageDetail":"No action was found on the controller 'Rest' that matches the request."}

Answer 1

Web API requires to explicitly set optional values even for nullable types and classes.

Use default value to optional parameter:

[Route("Rest/GetName/{name?}")]
public IHttpActionResult GetName(string name = null) {
 // cut - code here is trivial but long, I just fill in an object to return as Json code
 return Json(myObject);
}

And don't forget about routing registration:

httpConfig.MapHttpAttributeRoutes()

Answer 2

There are many possible solutions:

1. Try Optional Parameter

    [Route("Rest/GetName/{name?}")]
    public IHttpActionResult GetName(string name = null) {
    // cut - code here is trivial but long, I just fill in an 
    obj ect to return as 
    `enter code here`Json code
    return Json(myObject);
    }
   

2.Set PreFix on controller first

 [RoutePrefix("api/Rest")]
 [Authorize]
 public class RestController : ApiController
 {
 [Route("/GetName/{name}")]
 public IHttpActionResult GetName(string name = null) 
 {
 // cut - code here is trivial but long, I just fill in an object
 to return as Json code
 return Json(myObject);
 }
 }

3.Write parameter before action name in route

 [RoutePrefix("api/Rest")]
 [Authorize]
 public class RestController : ApiController
 {
 [Route("{name}/GetName")]
 public IHttpActionResult GetName(string name = null) 
 {
 // cut - code here is trivial but long, I just fill in an object
 to return as Json code
 return Json(myObject);
 }
 }

Hopefully this will help you to resolve your problem.Thanks