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How to get user MetaData from user request on API?

Ravi Vishwakarma5816-Dec-2024

In C#/.NET Core

How to get user MetaData from user requests on API, Just like IP Address, Location, Lattitute Laongitute, Regin, Country, State, Url Reffer, etc

web apiapi(s) web api rest api 
Updated on 16-Dec-2024
Ravi Vishwakarma

Ravi Vishwakarma

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Ravi Vishwakarma is a dedicated Software Developer with a passion for crafting efficient and innovative solutions. With a keen eye for detail and years of experience, he excels in developing robust software systems that meet client needs. His expertise spans across multiple programming languages and technologies, making him a valuable asset in any software development project.

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1 Answers

Anubhav Kumar

Anubhav Kumar

16-Dec-2024

In .NET Core, you can extract user metadata from the HttpRequest object in an API controller. Here’s how you can access various types of metadata:

1. IP Address

To get the user's IP address:

var ipAddress = HttpContext.Connection.RemoteIpAddress?.ToString();

2. User Agent

To get the user agent string from the request headers:

var userAgent = HttpContext.Request.Headers["User-Agent"].ToString();

3. Request Headers

To access all headers:

foreach (var header in HttpContext.Request.Headers)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{header.Key}: {header.Value}");
}

4. Referrer URL

To get the URL of the page that referred the user:

var referrer = HttpContext.Request.Headers["Referer"].ToString();

5. Authorization Information

To get the Authorization header (e.g., JWT or Bearer tokens):

var authorizationHeader = HttpContext.Request.Headers["Authorization"].ToString();

6. Query Parameters

To get query parameters:

var queryParams = HttpContext.Request.Query;
foreach (var param in queryParams)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{param.Key}: {param.Value}");
}

7. Custom Metadata in Headers

If your client sends custom metadata in the headers (e.g., X-Custom-Metadata), you can access it like this:

var customMetadata = HttpContext.Request.Headers["X-Custom-Metadata"].ToString();

Example Controller

Here’s an example controller that gathers and returns metadata:

[ApiController]
[Route("api/[controller]")]
public class MetadataController : ControllerBase
{
    [HttpGet]
    public IActionResult GetMetadata()
    {
        var metadata = new
        {
            IpAddress = HttpContext.Connection.RemoteIpAddress?.ToString(),
            UserAgent = HttpContext.Request.Headers["User-Agent"].ToString(),
            Referrer = HttpContext.Request.Headers["Referer"].ToString(),
            Authorization = HttpContext.Request.Headers["Authorization"].ToString(),
            QueryParams = HttpContext.Request.Query.ToDictionary(q => q.Key, q => q.Value.ToString())
        };

        return Ok(metadata);
    }
}

 

Notes

  • If the API is behind a proxy/load balancer, you might need to use forwarded headers to get the correct client IP. Enable and configure the ForwardedHeaders middleware for this:
app.UseForwardedHeaders(new ForwardedHeadersOptions
{
    ForwardedHeaders = ForwardedHeaders.XForwardedFor | ForwardedHeaders.XForwardedProto
});
  • Ensure your middleware configuration matches your hosting setup (e.g., NGINX, IIS).

 

Thanks for reading.

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