How to return more specific HTTP code (like 401.X)

Question

Here is an article about some extended HTTP codes:

IIS 7.0, IIS 7.5, and IIS 8.0 define several HTTP status codes that indicate a more specific cause of a 401 error. The following specific HTTP status codes are displayed in the client browser but are not displayed in the IIS log:

• 401.1 - Logon failed.
• 401.2 - Logon failed due to server configuration.
• 401.3 - Unauthorized due to ACL on resource.
• 401.4 - Authorization failed by filter.
• 401.5 - Authorization failed by ISAPI/CGI application.

I need some custom extended HTTP codes like these:

• 401.10 - User not found
• 401.11 - User password mismatch
• 401.12 - User account is locked
• 401.13 - User account is expired
• ...

How to return these extended 401 error codes from .NET MVC application?

Answer 1

In your action method you set the status codes manually:

Response.StatusCode = 401;
Response.SubStatusCode = 10;

Additionally, you can use the HttpStatusCode enumeration in System.Net:

Response.StatusCode = (int)HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized;