Web API read header value in controller constructor

Question

Is it possible to get at the header information in the constructor of a web API controller? I want to set variables based off a header value but I don't want to have to do it for each method. I'm particularly interested in a custom header value but I would settle for the Authorization one at this point. I can get it to work in an AuthorizationFilterAttribute but I also need it at the controller level.

[PolicyAuthorize]
public class PoliciesController : ApiController
{
    public PoliciesController()
    {
        var x = HttpContext.Current;  //will be null in constructor
    }

    public HttpResponseMessage Get()
    {
        var x = HttpContext.Current;  //will be available but too late
    }
}

public class PolicyAuthorizeAttribute : AuthorizationFilterAttribute
{
    public override void OnAuthorization(HttpActionContext actionContext)
    {
        var authHeader = actionContext.Request.Headers.Authorization;  //can get at Authorization header here but no HTTPActionContext in controller
    }
}

I used System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Request.Headers for this porpose — fs_dm
– fs_dm, Commented Nov 4, 2020 at 14:11

Kiran · Accepted Answer · 2014-06-03 23:18:02Z

Following are some options that you can consider...prefer 1. over 2.

Store additional data in current request message's properties bag HttpRequestMessage.Properties and have a convenience property in controller which all actions in the controller can access.

[CustomAuthFilter]
public class ValuesController : ApiController
{
    public string Name
    {
        get
        {
            return Request.Properties["Name"].ToString();
        }
    }

    public string GetAll()
    {
        return this.Name;
    }
}

public class CustomAuthFilter : AuthorizationFilterAttribute
{
    public override void OnAuthorization(HttpActionContext actionContext)
    {
        actionContext.Request.Properties["Name"] = "<your value from header>";
    }
}

You could get the current controller's instance and set the property value. Example:

[CustomAuthFilter]
public class ValuesController : ApiController
{
    public string Name { get; set; }

    public string GetAll()
    {
        return this.Name;
    }
}

public class CustomAuthFilter : AuthorizationFilterAttribute
{
    public override void OnAuthorization(HttpActionContext actionContext)
    {
        ValuesController valuesCntlr = actionContext.ControllerContext.Controller as ValuesController;

        if (valuesCntlr != null)
        {
            valuesCntlr.Name = "<your value from header>";
        }
    }
}

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