Sending Json raw content from ASP .Net Core controller

Question

I want to send raw Json content in a string on ASP .Net Core controller output.

If I try to do it by returning the string itself double quotes in its content will be escaped and the client will not recognize it as a Json content but as a string. Eg. :

public async Task<ActionResult<MyClass>> Get()
{
 try
 {
 // here we build an object from a service with a complex dataset
 MyClass myObject = ...; // business code here
 // serializing the object
 JsonSerializerOptions options = new()
 {
 WriteIndented = true,
 ReferenceHandler = ReferenceHandler.IgnoreCycles
 };
 string jsonDataset = JsonSerializer.Serialize<MyClass>(myObject , options);
 // or we could do simply for testing something like: jsonDataset = "{\"Id\"=10, \"Label\"=\"HelloWorld!\"}";
 // then we send it to the client
 return Ok(jsonDataset);
 } 
 catch (Exception ex)
 {
 return StatusCode(500, ex.Message);
 }
}

I cannot deserialize the json, it is too complex with object lists referencing other objects.

I cannot use NewtonSoft library, it is a no-go for my project's client. So no anonymous class for deserialization here :[|]

Is there a way to output the string "jsonObject" as an application/json content BUT WITHOUT double-quote escaping ?

Thanks for any help!

• Robert McKee: I think you just want to return Ok(myObject);
• browsermator: I'd use: public async Task<JsonResult> Get() ... then return new JsonResult(new {Data=YourModel})...
• FrançoisR: Thanks Robert, the Ok(myObject) was failing because of circular references in the object. Serialization needed option ReferenceHandler = ReferenceHandler.IgnoreCycles to work
• FrançoisR: Thanks pcalkins, it might work but with the option I mentionned in my previous comment may be :)

Answer 1

You can use the Content methods to return the string and specify the content type:

return Content(
 jsonDataset, 
 "application/json");

• FrançoisR: Thanks Marcus, I finaliy found something by re-reading the IActionResult docs with the JsonResult. I finaly simply used: return Json(myObject, options); With the options ReferenceHandler = ReferenceHandler.IgnoreCycles serializing the object in controller output worked. Thanks again though :)
• FrançoisR: Marcus, your solution works too :)