I'm trying to figure out a way to pass the entire class from my View to a Controller with Javascript/AJAX.

I know the following Ajax code can be used to pass just the ID but can I pass the entire model ?

    @model  User
    $.ajax(
        {
            type: "POST",
            url: "\User\",
            data: @model.id,
            success:
                reloadPage()
        });

I saw the following solution while searching: Is there a way to pass a "C#" object to a controller via AJAX?

Can I simply do this instead ? :

    @model  User
    $.ajax(
        {
            type: "POST",
            url: "\User\",
            data: @model,
            success:
                reloadPage()
        });

Will this work ? How safe ? What's the best way ?

I'm trying to figure out a way to pass the entire class from my View to a Controller with Javascript/AJAX.

I know the following Ajax code can be used to pass just the ID but can I pass the entire model ?

    @model  User
    $.ajax(
        {
            type: "POST",
            url: "\User\",
            data: @model.id,
            success:
                reloadPage()
        });

I saw the following solution while searching: Is there a way to pass a "C#" object to a controller via AJAX?

Can I simply do this instead ? :

    @model  User
    $.ajax(
        {
            type: "POST",
            url: "\User\",
            data: @model,
            success:
                reloadPage()
        });

Will this work ? How safe ? What's the best way ?

• c#
• javascript
• jquery
• ajax
• model-view-controller

4 Answers 4

Check out the JavascriptSerializer.Serialize() method. So something like this:

@model  User
$.ajax({
    type: "POST",
    url: "\User\",
    data: JSON.parse(@(new JavascriptSerializer().Serialize(Model))),
    success: reloadPage
});

Essentially, this serializes your model to a JSON string, which is then parsed client side back into a JS object, which is then passed into the AJAX request. When the request hits the server, MVC model binding handles constructing an instance of the model based off the JSON object.

Note that JSON.parse is not supported in older versions of IE. You can get json2.js to shim the method for IE.

Although not best practice, if there is no other way to get this data then you may pass the data via tempdata

View:

@{
 TempData["myModel"] = Model;
}

Controller:

var myModel = TempData["myModel"];
TempData.Remove("myModel");

Create a Json object with the same properties as original object, Give the Json object name as controller parameter name. Pass the Json object to Controller Using AJAX request

MVC model binding will takecare of remaining things

try using the serialize (jQuery)

eg.

$.ajax({
   type: "POST",
   url: "\User\",
   data: $(form).serialize(),
   success: reloadPage()
});