Passing a C# DateTime via the Query String

Question

I have a C# DateTime object. This object includes both the date and time. I need to pass this information to a REST-based service. My question is, how do I format the DateTime, such that I can pass it via the query string, and parse it back into a DateTime on the server-side?

DateTime startDate = GetStartDate();
string url = "http://www.mydomain.com/myservice.svc/[startDateGoesHere]

WebRequest request = HttpWebRequest.Create(url);
request.BeginGetResponse(new AsyncCallback(Service_Completed), request);

Thank you,

Answer 1

For accuracy and consistency you could use:

string utcDateOut = DateTime.UtcNow.ToString("s", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

DateTime utcDateIn = DateTime.ParseExact(utcDateOut, "s", 
                              CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, 
                              DateTimeStyles.AdjustToUniversal);

This will give you an ISO 8601 compliant format and the use of UTC will ensure that there are no issues with time zones etc.

Only drawback is that it doesn't look as "nice" as a simple "yyyyMMdd".

Answer 2

Just use ToString() and pass a format e.g.: startDate.ToString("yyyyMMddHHmmss")

And parse it back by using DateTime.ParseExact()

Answer 3

I'd use yyyyMMdd as the format; doesn't need to be URL encoded and it's easy to read/understand.

On the server side, you'd have to call DateTime.ParseExact(dateString, "yyyyMMdd") to get the date out.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

string s = DateTime.ToString("yyyyMMddHHmmssfff")

Note: fff is milliseconds (you may remove the 'fff' if it is not needed)
Then convert it back to DateTime using

DateTime d = DateTime.ParseExact(s, "yyyyMMddHHmmssfff", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)