Web API question [Answered]RSS

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  johnzee

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  306 Posts

  Web API question

  Feb 19, 2019 02:17 PM|johnzee|LINK

  Hello,

  I am trying to understand how would I let other applications consume an API.  It's my understanding that once I create a Web API then the other applications can use it to query customer data using it's different methods. The part I am confused about is, once an API is created, how does it become a URL so people can use it's methods? Do they have to generate Keys to access my Web API, how do I make sure only authorized users can use the Web API?

  Do I have to involve network admins in this process? If someone has a documentation or can point me to a video it will be great. 

  Thanks

• • Reply
  DA924

  Contributor

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  3185 Posts

  Re: Web API question

  Feb 19, 2019 06:45 PM|DA924|LINK

  The client program would use HTTPclinet() to access the WebAPI's methods. In the code example,   the client, which is a MVC solution,  is calling methods on the WebAPI for CRUD operations with the backend database that is using ADO.NET Entity Framework

  The DTO pattern is being used to pass data between client and service, which are kept in a classlib project called Entities,  and all projects that need to know about the DTO(s) have reference to the Entities project..

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transfer_object

  https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/1050468/Data-Transfer-Object-Design-Pattern-in-Csharp

  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-api/overview/data/using-web-api-with-entity-framework/part-5

  using System;
  using System.Collections.Generic;
  using System.Net.Http;
  using System.Net.Http.Headers;
  using System.Text;
  using Entities;
  using Newtonsoft.Json;
  using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
  
  namespace ProgMgmntCore2UserIdentity.WebApi
  {
      public class WebApi : IWebApi
      {
          #region ProjectApi
          
          public List<DtoProject> GetProjsByUserIdApi(string userid)
          {
              var dtoprojects = new List<DtoProject>();
  
              using (var client = new HttpClient())
              {
                  var uri = new Uri("http://progmgmntcore2api.com/api/project/GetProjsByUserId?userid=" + userid);
  
                  var response = client.GetAsync(uri).Result;
  
                  if (!response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
                      throw new Exception(response.ToString());
  
                  var responseContent = response.Content;
                  var responseString = responseContent.ReadAsStringAsync().Result;
  
                  dynamic projects = JArray.Parse(responseString) as JArray;
  
                  foreach (var obj in projects)
                  {
                      DtoProject dto = obj.ToObject<DtoProject>();
  
                      dtoprojects.Add(dto);
                  }
              }
  
              return dtoprojects;
          }
  
          public DtoProject GetProjByIdApi(int id)
          {
              DtoProject dto;
  
              using (var client = new HttpClient())
              {
                  var uri = new Uri("http://progmgmntcore2api.com/api/project/GetProjById?id=" + id);
                  HttpResponseMessage getResponseMessage = client.GetAsync(uri).Result;
  
                  if (!getResponseMessage.IsSuccessStatusCode)
                      throw new Exception(getResponseMessage.ToString());
  
                  var responsemessage = getResponseMessage.Content.ReadAsStringAsync().Result;
  
                  dynamic project = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(responsemessage);
  
                  dto = project.ToObject<DtoProject>();
              }
  
              return dto;
          }
  
          public void CreateProjectApi(DtoProject dto)
          {
              using (var client = new HttpClient { BaseAddress = new Uri("http://progmgmntcore2api.com") })
              {
                  string serailizeddto = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(dto);
  
                  var inputMessage = new HttpRequestMessage
                  {
                      Content = new StringContent(serailizeddto, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json")
                  };
  
                  inputMessage.Headers.Accept.Add(new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));
  
                  HttpResponseMessage message =
                      client.PostAsync("api/project/CreateProject", inputMessage.Content).Result;
  
                  if (!message.IsSuccessStatusCode)
                      throw new Exception(message.ToString());
              }
          }
  
          public void UpdateProjectApi(DtoProject dto)
          {
              using (var client = new HttpClient { BaseAddress = new Uri("http://progmgmntcore2api.com") })
              {
                  string serailizeddto = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(dto);
  
                  var inputMessage = new HttpRequestMessage
                  {
                      Content = new StringContent(serailizeddto, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json")
                  };
  
                  inputMessage.Headers.Accept.Add(new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));
  
                  HttpResponseMessage message =
                      client.PostAsync("api/project/UpdateProject", inputMessage.Content).Result;
  
                  if (!message.IsSuccessStatusCode)
                      throw new Exception(message.ToString());
              }
          }
  
          public void DeleteProjectApi(DtoId dto)
          {
              using (var client = new HttpClient { BaseAddress = new Uri("http://progmgmntcore2api.com") })
              {
                  string serailizeddto = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(dto);
  
                  var inputMessage = new HttpRequestMessage
                  {
                      Content = new StringContent(serailizeddto, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json")
                  };
  
                  inputMessage.Headers.Accept.Add(new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));
  
                  HttpResponseMessage message =
                      client.PostAsync("api/project/DeleteProject", inputMessage.Content).Result;
  
                  if (!message.IsSuccessStatusCode)
                      throw new Exception(message.ToString());
              }
          }
  
          #endregion
  
       }
  }
  
  

  using System.Collections.Generic;
  using DAL;
  using Entities;
  using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
  
  namespace ProgMgmntCore2Api.Controllers
  {
      [Produces("application/json")]
      [Route("api/[controller]")]
      [ApiController]
  
      public class ProjectController : ControllerBase, IProjectController
      {
          private readonly IDaoProject _daoProject;
  
          public ProjectController(IDaoProject daoProject)
          {
              _daoProject = daoProject;
          }
  
          [HttpGet]
          [Route("GetProjById")]
          public DtoProject GetProjectById(int id)
          {
              return  _daoProject.GetProjectById(id);
          }
          
          [HttpGet]
          [Route("GetProjsByUserId")]
          public List<DtoProject> GetProjectsByUserId(string userid)
          {
              return _daoProject.GetProjectsByUserId(userid);
          }
  
          [HttpPost]
          [Route("CreateProject")]
          public void Post_CreateProject(DtoProject dto)
          {
              _daoProject.CreateProject(dto);
          }
  
          [HttpPost]
          [Route("DeleteProject")]
          public void Post_DeleteProject(DtoId dto)
          {
              _daoProject.DeleteProject(dto.Id);
          }
  
          [HttpPost]
          [Route("UpdateProject")]
          public void Post_UpdateProject(DtoProject dto)
          {
              _daoProject.UpdateProject(dto);
          }
      }
  }
  

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  Yohann Lu

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  Microsoft

  Re: Web API question

  Feb 20, 2019 03:00 AM|Yohann Lu|LINK

  
  Hi johnzee,

  johnzee

  The part I am confused about is, once an API is created, how does it become a URL so people can use it's methods?

  You can deploy the WebAPI on IIS or Self-Host or Azure, then client can use httpclient to call the Web API.

  How to Host ASP.Net Web API on IIS Server
  https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/2b481f/how-to-host-Asp-Net-web-api-on-iis-server/

  Use OWIN to Self-Host ASP.NET Web API
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-api/overview/hosting-aspnet-web-api/use-owin-to-self-host-web-api

  Host ASP.NET Web API 2 in an Azure Worker Role
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-api/overview/hosting-aspnet-web-api/host-aspnet-web-api-in-an-azure-worker-role

  johnzee

  Do they have to generate Keys to access my Web API, how do I make sure only authorized users can use the Web API?

  Yes, you can Secure your Web API to make sure only authorized users can use it.

  You can refer the following ways.

  Security, Authentication, and Authorization in ASP.NET Web API
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-api/overview/security/

  Secure a Web API with Individual Accounts and Local Login in ASP.NET Web API 2.2
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-api/overview/security/individual-accounts-in-web-api

  External Authentication Services with ASP.NET Web API (C#)
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/web-api/overview/security/external-authentication-services

  johnzee

  Do I have to involve network admins in this process?

  You may need to involve network admins when you deploy your Web API(Provide external access in a secure situation).

  
  Best Regards,

  Yong Lu

  
  MSDN Community Support
  Please remember to "Mark as Answer" the responses that resolved your issue.