ASP.NET MVC 3 - Can We Use Model Binding Over jQuery AJAX Calls?

Question

If i have the following jQuery function (in an external file):

function getResults(field1, field2, field3) {
   $.get('/Search/GetResults', { id: field1, type: field2, blah: field3 }, function(data) {
      $('#target').html(data);
   });
}

Which essentially takes a bunch of fields from the form, sends them to an action method (which returns a PartialViewResult), and binds the result to a target div.

Here is that action method:

[HttpGet]
public PartialViewResult GetResults(int id, int type, string blah)
{
   var model = repository.GetResults(id, type, blah);
   return PartialView("Results", model);
}

Is it possible to use model-binding here? E.g can we do this:

function getResults(someModel) {
   $.get('/Search/GetResults', { model: someModel }, function(data) {
      $('#target').html(data);
   });
}

And this:

[HttpGet]
public PartialViewResult GetResults(SearchPreferences prefs)
{
   var model = repository.GetResults(prefs);
   return PartialView("Results", model);
}

Or should i construct a JSON object and pass that? Currently those values are retrieved via individual jQuery DOM calls:

var field1 = $('#field1').val();
var field2 = $('#field2').val();

The goal is to reduce/simplify jQuery code. I have all those calls to grab all the values, then i need to pass them all as parameters.

Ideally i'd like to just pass one object.

Any recommendations?

EDIT: Just realized i may be able to use the new JSON Model Binding feature in ASP.NET MVC 3. Reading up on it now... (feel free to answer in advance in the meantime).

Answer 1

In ASP.NET MVC 3, YES! Check out this link, from TheGu himself.

ASP.NET MVC 3 now includes built-in support for posting JSON-based parameters from client-side JavaScript to action methods on the server. This makes it easier to exchange data across the client and server, and build rich JavaScript front-ends.