Passing a model object to a RedirectToAction without polluting the URL?

Question

Here's what I'm trying to do:

public ActionResult Index()
{
    return View();
}

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Index(ContactModel model)
{
    if (ModelState.IsValid)
    {
        // Send email using Model information.

        return RedirectToAction("Gracias", model);
    }

    return View(model);
}

public ActionResult Gracias(ContactModel model)
{
    return View(model);
}

All three action methods are in the same controller. Basically, a user type up some data in the contact form and I want to redirect them to a thank you page using their name in the Model object.

As the code is, it works, but the URL passed along with GET variables. Not ideal.

http://localhost:7807/Contacto/Gracias?Nombre=Sergio&Apellidos=Tapia&Correo=opiasdf&Telefono=oinqwef&Direccion=oinqef&Pais=oinqwef&Mensaje=oinqwef

Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Sounds like a solution for TempData!

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Index(ContactModel model)
{
  if (ModelState.IsValid)
  {
    // Send email using Model information.
    TempData["model"] = model;
    return RedirectToAction("Gracias");
  }

  return View(model);
}

public ActionResult Gracias()
{
  ContactModel model = (ContactModel)TempData["model"];
  return View(model);
}

Answer 2

Instead of doing

return RedirectToAction("Gracias", model);

You could do

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Index(ContactModel model)
{
    if (ModelState.IsValid)
    {
        // Send email using Model information.

        return View("Gracias", model);
    }

    return View(model);
}

and remove your Gracias controller action. Using above the "Gracias" view will be displayed with your ContactModel model.

I don't see the need to have a separate controller action if it uses the same model and is a lock step part of the workflow ex. "a successful POST to Index will always result in the Gracias View being displayed"

You could also store the model in TempData (which is like a 1 request session state) but I don't see any point in doing that in your situation as it just complicates things

Thoughts?