How do you handle multiple submit buttons in ASP.NET MVC Framework?

Attribute Utilization

As your application grows, so does the complexity of your forms. Here, sophisticated handling mechanisms like custom attributes come in handy.

Enhanced Attribute Use

Conceptualize a MultipleButtonAttribute to connect action methods to corresponding buttons.

public class MultipleButtonAttribute : ActionNameSelectorAttribute
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string Argument { get; set; }

    public override bool IsValidName(ControllerContext controllerContext, string actionName, MethodInfo methodInfo)
    {
        bool isValidName = false;
        var keyValue = $"{Name}:{Argument}";
        var value = controllerContext.Controller.ValueProvider.GetValue(keyValue);

        // Who goes there? Check to detect the button click!
        if (value != null)
        {
            // Knight the routes with appropriate button actions.
            controllerContext.Controller.ControllerContext.RouteData.Values[actionName] = Argument;
            isValidName = true;
        }

        return isValidName;
    }
}


Then get these attributes to work effectively:

[HttpPost]
[MultipleButton(Name = "action", Argument = "Send")]
public ActionResult Send()
{
    // I'm alive! Sending now...
    return View("Success");
}

[HttpPost]
[MultipleButton(Name = "action", Argument = "Cancel")]
public ActionResult Cancel()
{
    // Do you want to give it another shot?
    return View();
}


The Razor Edge

ASP.NET Core cuts through the murkiness with Razor Pages, offering handler methods that elegantly treats multiple submit buttons.

Robust and Secure Code

Maintaining code quality and ensuring security is just as crucial while architecting functionality.

Multilingual support and secure coding

A robust code is one that prevents attacks and supports multiple languages. Use Html.Encode to secure user-submitted content against XSS attacks, and consider multilingual support by tapping resources for button values.

Decoupling for maintainability

Strive to decouple action logic from UI component names to avert tangled dependencies. It helps construct scalable and maintainable code.

Form Complexity and Scalability

Dealing with intricate form structures and multiple buttons requires a clear plan to organize and scale your code effectively.

Pattern for Scalability

By adopting a strategy pattern, you encapsulate submission actions into distinct classes, making forms more extensible and easier to test.

Handling Non-gamed Actions

For actions that don't require form submission, like Cancel, consider using Html.ActionLink for efficient performance and cleaner URL creation.

Segregate forms for Clarity

If your form encompasses significantly different action types, reckon carving them out into distinct forms. It allows segregating concerns leading to cleaner and traceable code.