Action Result Return Types In ASP.Net MVC

What is ActionResult ?
ActionResult is the abstract class which is used to show the output to the client in different format as per result view  returned by the controller.
The ActionResult are defined into the controller and controller returns to the client (Browser).
The following are the sub type or types of Action Results which are present in MVC which are used as per output requirement of client.

1. ViewResult 
2. PartialViewResult  
3. EmptyResult 
4. RedirectResult 
5.  RedirectToRouteResult 
6. JsonResult  
7. JavaScriptResult
8. ContentResult 
9. FileContentResult
10. FileStreamResult
11.  FilePathResult 

Let us learn in brief about each ActionResult are as

ViewResult

 It returns the a specified view to the response stream such as html. Syntax

public class EmpController : Controller
{
    
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        return View();
    }
}

PartialViewResult 

 It returns the partial view to the response stream,mostly the partial view call from main view.Its same like as user control in Asp.net.

Syntax

public class EmpController : Controller
{
    
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
        return PartialView("_Empdetails");
    }
}

EmptyResult  

This action returns the empty response to the client. Syntax 

public class EmpController : Controller
{
    
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
      return new EmptyResult();
    }
}

• RedirectResult -It redirects to the specified url same as Response.Redirect in Asp.net.

 Syntax

public class EmpController : Controller
{
    
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
     return Redirect("http://www.compilemode.com");
    }
}

• RedirectToRouteResult - Performs an HTTP redirection to a URL that is determined by the routing engine, based on given route data.

Syntax

public class EmpController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult Index()
    {
    filterContext.Result = new RedirectToRouteResult(new RouteValueDictionary(new { 
    action = "View", 
    controller = "EmpController",}));
    }
}

JsonResult

This action Serializes a given View Data object into JSON (JavaScript object notation) format. Syntax 

public class EmpController : Controller
{
    public JsonResult EmpDet()  
        {  
     
            return Json("HI", JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);  
        }   
   
}

JavaScriptResult 

This action returns a piece of JavaScript code that can be executed on the client side.

Syntax

public class EmpController : Controller
{
public virtual JavaScriptResult EmpDet()
{
    var script = string.Format(@"
    MaxNotificaitonsToShow = {0};
    ItemsPerPage = 5;",
    GlobalSettings.MaxNotificaitonsToShow);
    return JavaScript(script);
}
}

ContentResult 

It writes content to the response stream without requiring a view. Syntax 

public class EmpController : Controller
{
public ContentResult PersonInfo()
{
    return Content("Hi Vithal Wadje");
}
}

FileContentResult 

It returns a file to the client. Syntax 

public class EmpController : Controller
{
public FileResult DailyReport()
{
    string fileName = @"c:\Vithal Wadje\DailyReport.pdf";
    string contentType = "application/pdf";
 
    return new FilePathResult(fileName, contentType);
}
}

FileStreamResult  

This action returns a file to the client, which is provided by a Stream. Syntax

public class EmpController : Controller
{  
public ActionResult DownloadFile()
{
    string Fileinfo =@"c:\Vithal Wadje\DailyReport.txt";
    byte[] data = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(Fileinfo );
    return File(data, "text/plain","DailyReport.txt");
}
}

FilePathResult  

This action returns a file to the client.  Syntax 

public class EmpController : Controller
{
public FilePathResult DownloadFile(string file, Guid GuID)
{ 
    return File(FileStream, "application/octet-stream", fileName);
}
}