How do I get ASP.NET Web API to return JSON instea

Question

Using the newer ASP.NET Web API, in Chrome I am seeing XML - how can I change it to request JSON so I can view it in the browser? I do believe it is just part of the request headers, am I correct in that?

Answer 1

WebApiConfig is the place where you can configure whether you want to output in json or xml. by default it is xml. in the register function we can use HttpConfiguration Formatters to format the output . System.Net.Http.Headers => MediaTypeHeaderValue("text/html") is require to get the output in the json format.

Answer 2

MVC4 Quick Tip #3–Removing the XML Formatter from ASP.Net Web API

In Global.asax add the line:

GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.XmlFormatter.SupportedMediaTypes.Clear();

like so:

protected void Application_Start()
{
    AreaRegistration.RegisterAllAreas();

    RegisterGlobalFilters(GlobalFilters.Filters);
    RegisterRoutes(RouteTable.Routes);

    BundleTable.Bundles.RegisterTemplateBundles();
    GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.XmlFormatter.SupportedMediaTypes.Clear();
}

Answer 3

In the WebApiConfig.cs, add to the end of the Register function:

// Remove the XML formatter
config.Formatters.Remove(config.Formatters.XmlFormatter);

Source.

Answer 4

as per latest version of ASP.net WebApi 2,

under WebApiConfig.cs , this will work

config.Formatters.Remove(GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.XmlFormatter);
config.Formatters.Add(GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.JsonFormatter);

Answer 5

In the Global.asax I am using the code below. My URI to get JSON is http://www.digantakumar.com/api/values?json=true

protected void Application_Start()
{
    AreaRegistration.RegisterAllAreas();

    FilterConfig.RegisterGlobalFilters(GlobalFilters.Filters);
    RouteConfig.RegisterRoutes(RouteTable.Routes);
    BundleConfig.RegisterBundles(BundleTable.Bundles);

    GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Formatters.JsonFormatter.MediaTypeMappings.Add(new  QueryStringMapping("json", "true", "application/json"));
}