Routing in ASP.NET Core Web API Explained

Routing in ASP.NET Core Web API maps incoming HTTP requests to controller actions. It determines which action handles a request based on the URL, HTTP method, and route template. ASP.NET Core supports attribute routing and conventional routing.

Key Features:

• Maps requests to controller actions
• Supports attribute-based and conventional routing
• Works with RESTful APIs and multiple HTTP methods
• Enables route constraints and parameters
• Integrates with versioning and middleware

Example – Attribute Routing:

[ApiController]
[Route("api/[controller]")]
public class ProductsController : ControllerBase
{
    [HttpGet("{id}")]
    public IActionResult GetProduct(int id)
    {
        return Ok($"Product ID: {id}");
    }
}

Example – Conventional Routing in Program.cs:

app.MapControllerRoute(
    name: "default",
    pattern: "api/{controller=Products}/{action=Get}/{id?}");

Routing in ASP.NET Core Web API ensures requests are handled correctly, providing clear URLs and supporting RESTful design principles.

Citations:

• Learn more on Savanka
• Official ASP.NET Core Documentation