Error in Routing in ASP.NET MVC

Question

I am trying to search a movie from a list. However, the search string always returns null.

My Controller Code

public ActionResult Index()
{
    return View(db.Movies.ToList());
}

public ActionResult Search(string searchstring)
{

    var movies = from m in db.Movies
                 where m.Title.Contains(searchstring)
                 select m;

    return View(movies.ToList());

}

// GET: Movies/Details/5
public ActionResult Details(int? id)
{
    if (id == null)
    {
        return new HttpStatusCodeResult(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
    }
    Movie movie = db.Movies.Find(id);
    if (movie == null)
    {
        return HttpNotFound();
    }
    return View(movie);
}

Routing Configuration

routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}");

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "Default",
    url: "{controller}/{action}/{id}",
    defaults: new { controller = "Movies", action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }
);

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "Search",
    url: "{controller}/{action}/{searchstring}"
);

I am able to get the list of movies from Index action. The URL I am passing is http://localhost:52872/Movies/Search/GodFather

However if I place my Search route above the Default route, it works fine, but the edit, and details does not work.

Route conflict. first route template matches so it does not reach the second one. — Nkosi

Nkosi Nkosi · Accepted Answer · 2018-07-08T13:48:32

Route conflict. First route template matches so it does not reach the second one.

Order of route definition is also important for the same reason.

Refactor to

routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}");

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "Search",
    url: "Movies/Search/{searchstring}",
    defaults: new { controller = "Movies", action = "Search"}
);

routes.MapRoute(
    name: "Default",
    url: "{controller}/{action}/{id}",
    defaults: new { controller = "Movies", action = "Index", id = UrlParameter.Optional }
);

Error in Routing in ASP.NET MVC

1 Answers