How to pass a value to razor variable from javascript variable?

Question

You can't. and the reason is that they do not "live" in the same time. The Razor variables are "Server side variables" and they don't exist anymore after the page was sent to the "Client side".

When the server get a request for a view, it creates the view with only HTML, CSS and Javascript code. No C# code is left, it's all get "translated" to the client side languages.

The Javascript code DOES exist when the view is still on the server, but it's meaningless and will be executed by the browser only (Client side again).

This is why you can use Razor variables to change the HTML and Javascript but not vice versa. Try to look at your page source code (CTRL+U in most browsers), there will be no sign of C# code there.

In short:

1. The server gets a request.

2. The server creates or "takes" the view, then computes and translates all the C# code that was embedded in the view to CSS, Javascript, and HTML.

3. The server returns the client side version of the view to the browser as a response to the request. (there is no C# at this point anymore)

4. the browser renders the page and executes all the Javascript

But it would be possible if one were used in place of the variable in @html.Hidden field. As in this example.

@Html.Hidden("myVar", 0);

set the field per script:

<script>
function setMyValue(value) {
     $('#myVar').val(value);       
}
</script>

I hope I can at least offer no small Workaround.

Okay, so this question is old... but I wanted to do something similar and I found a solution that works for me. Maybe it might help someone else.

I have a List<QuestionType> that I fill a drop down with. I want to put that selection into the QuestionType property on the Question object that I'm creating in the form. I'm using Knockout.js for the select binding. This sets the self.QuestionType knockout observable property to a QuestionType object when the user selects one.

<select class="form-control form-control-sm"
    data-bind="options: QuestionTypes, optionsText: 'QuestionTypeText', value: QuestionType, optionsCaption: 'Choose...'">
</select>

I have a hidden field that will hold this object:

@Html.Hidden("NewQuestion.QuestionTypeJson", Model.NewQuestion.QuestionTypeJson)

In the subscription for the observable, I set the hidden field to a JSON.stringify-ed version of the object.

self.QuestionType.subscribe(function(newValue) {
    if (newValue !== null && newValue !== undefined) {                       
        document.getElementById('NewQuestion_QuestionTypeJson').value = JSON.stringify(newValue);
    }
});

In the Question object, I have a field called QuestionTypeJson that is filled when the user selects a question type. I use this field to get the QuestionType in the Question object like this:

public string QuestionTypeJson { get; set; }

private QuestionType _questionType = new QuestionType();
public QuestionType QuestionType
{
    get => string.IsNullOrEmpty(QuestionTypeJson) ? _questionType : JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<QuestionType>(QuestionTypeJson);
    set => _questionType = value;
}

So if the QuestionTypeJson field contains something, it will deserialize that and use it for QuestionType, otherwise it'll just use what is in the backing field.

I have essentially 'passed' a JavaScript object to my model without using Razor or an Ajax call. You can probably do something similar to this without using Knockout.js, but that's what I'm using so...