How to get content body from a httpclient call?

c#, dotnet-httpclient

Solution

The way you are using await/async is poor at best, and it makes it hard to follow. You are mixing `await` with `Task'1.Result`, which is just confusing. However, it looks like you are looking at a final task result, rather than the contents.

I've rewritten your function and function call, which should fix your issue:

async Task<string> GetResponseString(string text)
{
    var httpClient = new HttpClient();

    var parameters = new Dictionary<string, string>();
    parameters["text"] = text;

    var response = await httpClient.PostAsync(BaseUri, new FormUrlEncodedContent(parameters));
    var contents = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();

    return contents;
}

And your final function call:

Task<string> result = GetResponseString(text);
var finalResult = result.Result;

Or even better:

var finalResult = await GetResponseString(text);

Problem

I've been trying to figure out how to read the contents of a httpclient call, and I can't seem to get it. The response status I get is 200, but I can't figure out how to get to the actual Json being returned, which is all I need! The following is my code: ``` async Task<string> GetResponseString(string text) { var httpClient = new HttpClient(); var parameters = new Dictionary<string, string>(); parameters["text"] = text; Task<HttpResponseMessage> response = httpClient.PostAsync(BaseUri, new FormUrlEncodedContent(parameters)); return await response.Result.Content.ReadAsStringAsync(); } ``` And I am getting it just calling it from a method: ``` Task<string> result = GetResponseString(text); ``` And This is what I get `response Id = 89, Status = RanToCompletion, Method = "{null}", Result = "StatusCode: 200, ReasonPhrase: 'OK', Version: 1.1, Content: System.Net.Http.StreamContent, Headers:\r\n{\r\n Connection: keep-alive\r\n Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:56:43 GMT\r\n ETag: \"5a266b16b9dccea99d3e76bf8c1253e0\"\r\n Server: nginx/0.7.65\r\n Content-Length: 125\r\n Content-Type: application/json\r\n}" System.Threading.Tasks.Task<System.Net.Http.HttpResponseMessage>` Update: This is my current code per Nathan's response below ``` async Task<string> GetResponseString(string text) { var httpClient = new HttpClient(); var parameters = new Dictionary<string, string>(); parameters["text"] = text; var response = await httpClient.PostAsync(BaseUri, new FormUrlEncodedContent(parameters)); var contents = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync(); return contents; } ``` And I call it from this method.... ``` string AnalyzeSingle(string text) { try { Task<string> result = GetResponseString(text); var model = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<SentimentJsonModel>(result.Result); if (Convert.ToInt16(model.pos) == 1) { _numRetries = 0; return "positive"; } if (Convert.ToInt16(model.neg) == 1) { _numRetries = 0; return "negative"; } if (Convert.ToInt16(model.mid) == 1) { _numRetries = 0; return "neutral"; } return ""; } catch (Exception e) { if (_numRetries > 3) { LogThis(string.Format("Exception caught [{0}] .... skipping", e.Message)); _numRetries = 0; return ""; } _numRetries++; return AnalyzeSingle(text); } } ``` And it keeps running forever, It hits the line `var model = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<SentimentJsonModel>(result.Result);` Once, and it continues to go without stopping at another breakpoint. When I pause execution, It say Id = Cannot evaluate expression because the code of the current method is optimized., Status = Cannot evaluate expression because the code of the current method is optimized., Method = Cannot evaluate expression because the code of the current method is optimized., Result = Cannot evaluate expression because the code of the current method is optimized. .. I Continue execution, but it just runs forever. Not sure what the problem is

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