---
title: "Search Functionality in ASP.NET MVC 4"  
description: "This article discusses about searching text from existing table. In this demonstration I’m going to explain you how can you use SQL..."  
author: "AVADHESH PATEL"  
published: 2013-02-05  
updated: 2019-11-19  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1141/search-functionality-in-asp-dot-net-mvc-4  
category: "asp.net mvc"  
tags: ["asp.net mvc"]  
reading_time: 11 minutes  

---

# Search Functionality in ASP.NET MVC 4

This article discusses about searching text from existing table. In this demonstration I’m going to explain you how can you use SQL query for finding a particular record from table, based on user input keyword. For making this demonstration I’ve used Visual Studio Express 2012 with framework 4.5, SQL Server 2008 and Windows 8 Operating System. Steps are given below\

**Step 1:** First, create a table and insert some data. Below I’ve shown my table chema with data.

```
-- Create database e.g. MindStick_Demo
CREATE DATABASE MindStick_Demo
-- Used above created database
USE MindStick_Demo
 
-- Create table e.g. SearchDetails
CREATE TABLE SearchDetails
(
[ID] BIGINT IDENTITY PRIMARY KEY,
[Name] VARCHAR(50),
[Designation] VARCHAR(50),
[Domain] VARCHAR(50),
[Task] VARCHAR(MAX)
)
 
-- Insert data into SearchDetails table
INSERT INTO [SearchDetails]([Name],[Designation],[Domain],[Task]) VALUES('Samuel Fernandes','Software Developer','.NET, PHP, Database','Procedure,Function,MVC 4, ASP.NET, JSON, JQuery, JavaScript,IIS')
INSERT INTO [SearchDetails]([Name],[Designation],[Domain],[Task]) VALUES('Takeshi Okada','Jr. Software Developer','.NET','Windows Application,Procedure,Function,MVC 4, ASP.NET, JSON, JQuery, JavaScript,IIS')
INSERT INTO [SearchDetails]([Name],[Designation],[Domain],[Task]) VALUES('Alexander Sabato','Jr. Software Developer','.NET, Database','Procedure, Function, MVC 4, ASP.NET, JQuery, JavaScript,Web Service, Windows Application')
INSERT INTO [SearchDetails]([Name],[Designation],[Domain],[Task]) VALUES('Benjamin Richards','Software Developer','.NET,Testing','Procedure,Function,MVC 4, ASP.NET, JQuery, JavaScript')
```

**Step 2**: Open MVC Project in your Visual Studio with an empty template as below image

![Search Functionality in ASP.NET MVC 4](https://www.mindstick.com/mindstickarticle/74883949-5c3c-4509-b1ff-7a4be371f993/images/ab6086e3-e23b-470e-9f65-b2a23b59630a.png)\

**Step 3:** Create a controller and write the following lines of code.

```
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using SimpleSearch.Models;
 
namespace SimpleSearch.Controllers
{
    public class HomeController : Controller
    {
        protected List<string> keywords = new List<string>();
        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            ViewBag.Message = false;
            return View();
        }
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Get value from view textbox and send to model
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="txtValue"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [HttpPost]
        public ActionResult Index(string txtValue)
        {
            // Check length before for process
            if (txtValue.Length > 0)
            {
                // Turn user input to a list of keywords.
                string[] keywords = txtValue.Trim().Split(new string[] { " " }, StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
                this.keywords = keywords.ToList();
                DisplayData dataAccess = new DisplayData();
 
                // call search method and passed generated keyword
                List<Content> list = dataAccess.Search(this.keywords);
                return View(list);
            }
            else
            {
                // If no keyword are entered than send error message to user
                ViewBag.Message = true;
                return View();
            }
        }
    }
} 
```

**Note**: In the above code, for textbox validation, I have used ViewBag. For used proper validation in MVC, read the below article.

[**https://www.mindstick.com/Articles/871/validation-in-asp-dot-net-mvc3**\](https://www.mindstick.com/Articles/871/validation-in-asp-dot-net-mvc3)

**Step 4:** Create a model (e.g. Content) where we make properties and methods that

access by controller and view. Line of code is given below

```
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using System.Text;
 
namespace SimpleSearch.Models
{ 
    /// <summary>
    /// This class is used to create properties
    /// </summary>
    public class Content
    {
        public long lID { get; set; }
        public string sName { get; set; }
        public string sDesignation { get; set; }
        public string sDomain { get; set; }
        public string sTask { get; set; }
    } 
    /// <summary>
    /// This class is used to access database.
    /// </summary>
    public class DisplayData
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Search records from database.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="keywords">the list of keywords</param>
        /// <returns>all found records</returns>
        public List<Content> Search(List<string> keywords)
        {
            // Generate a complex Sql command.
            StringBuilder sqlBuilder = new StringBuilder();
            sqlBuilder.Append("select * from [SearchDetails] where ");
            foreach (string item in keywords)
            {
                sqlBuilder.AppendFormat("([Name] like '%{0}%' or [Designation] like '%{0}%' or [Domain] like '%{0}%' or [Task] like '%{0}%') and ", item);
            }
 
            // Remove unnecessary string " and " at the end of the command.
            string sql = sqlBuilder.ToString(0, sqlBuilder.Length - 5);
 
            return QueryList(sql);
        } 
        /// <summary>
        /// Excute a Sql command.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="cmdText">Command text</param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        protected List<Content> QueryList(string cmdText)
        {
            List<Content> ctn = new List<Content>();
 
            SqlCommand cmd = GenerateSqlCommand(cmdText);
            using (cmd.Connection)
            {
                SqlDataReader reader = cmd.ExecuteReader();
 
                // Transform records to a list.
                if (reader.HasRows)
                {
                    while (reader.Read())
                    {
                        ctn.Add(ReadValue(reader));
                    }
                }
            }
            return ctn;
        }
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Create a connected SqlCommand object.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="cmdText">Command text</param>
        /// <returns>SqlCommand object</returns>
        protected SqlCommand GenerateSqlCommand(string cmdText)
        {
            // Read Connection String from web.config file.
            SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["dbConnection"].ConnectionString);
            SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(cmdText, con);
            cmd.Connection.Open();
            return cmd;
        }
 
        /// <summary>
        /// Create an Content object from a SqlDataReader object.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="reader"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        protected Content ReadValue(SqlDataReader reader)
        {
            Content obj = new Content();
 
            obj.lID = (long)reader["ID"];
            obj.sName = (string)reader["Name"];
            obj.sDesignation = (string)reader["Designation"];
            obj.sDomain = (string)reader["Domain"];
            obj.sTask = (string)reader["Task"];
            return obj;
        }
    }
} 
```

**Note**: Set database connection string in your application’s web.config as below line of code.

For **Windows Authentication**

```
<configuration>
 <connectionStrings>
    <add name="dbConnection" connectionString="Data Source=(local); Initial Catalog=MindStick_Demo; Integrated Security=True;" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration> 
```

For **SQL Server Authentication**

```
<configuration>
 <connectionStrings>
    <add name="dbConnection" connectionString="Data Source=SeverName; Initial Catalog=MindStick_Demo; User id = XXXXX; Password = XXXXX" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
  </connectionStrings>
</configuration>
```

**Step 5**: Create View (e.g. Index) and use below lines of code

```
@model IEnumerable<SimpleSearch.Models.Content> 
@{    Layout = null;}

<!DOCTYPE html> 
<html>
<head>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" />
    <title>Index</title>
    <style type="text/css">
        table, td, th {
            border: 1px solid green;
        }
 
        th {
            background-color: green;
            color: white;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div style="background-color: lightblue; height: 100px; padding-top: 10px;">
        <span style="text-align: center;">
            <h1> Search Functionality in ASP.NET MVC 4</h1>
        </span>
    </div>
    <div>
        <table style="margin-left: 35%; margin-top: 10px; border: none;">
            <tr>
                @using (Html.BeginForm())
                { <td style="border: none;">
                    <label id="lblName">Enter Keyword</label></td>
                    <td style="border: none;">@Html.TextBox("txtValue")</td>
                    <td style="border: none;">
                        <input id="btnSearch" type="submit" value="Search" /></td>
                }
            </tr>
        </table>
    </div>
    <div>
        @if (ViewBag.Message == true)
        {
            <label id="lblMessage" title="Please enter keyword" style="color:red;">Please enter keyword...!</label>
        }
        else
        {
            if (Model != null)
            {
                if (Model.Count() != 0)
                {
            <table style="border: 2px solid LightGray;">
                <tr>
                    <th>Name</th>
                    <th>Designation</th>
                    <th>Domain</th>
                    <th>Task</th>
                </tr>
                @foreach (var item in Model)
                {
                    <tr>
                        <td>@item.sName</td>
                        <td>@item.sDesignation</td>
                        <td>@item.sDomain</td>
                        <td>@item.sTask</td>
                    </tr>
                }
            </table>
                }
                else
                {
            <label id="lblErrorMsg" title="Record not fount...!" style="color:red;">Record not found...!</label>
                }
            }
        }
    </div>
</body>
</html> 
```

**Step 6:** Build your application. Now it is time for a coffee and executes your application.

![Search Functionality in ASP.NET MVC 4](https://www.mindstick.com/mindstickarticle/74883949-5c3c-4509-b1ff-7a4be371f993/images/fd725b74-defe-48eb-9e30-e608fcbfb9c7.png)\

**Step 7:** Enter a valid keyword that you insert into a database. For example, if you search the PHP domain than the result will be populated as below image.

![Search Functionality in ASP.NET MVC 4](https://www.mindstick.com/mindstickarticle/74883949-5c3c-4509-b1ff-7a4be371f993/images/ea6cc3c0-8d50-42e0-935a-9c5fc3096a15.png)\

If you’ve entered a wrong keyword that does not exist in your table then “Record not found!” will be visible.

![Search Functionality in ASP.NET MVC 4](https://www.mindstick.com/mindstickarticle/74883949-5c3c-4509-b1ff-7a4be371f993/images/3eaf7fd3-98ca-42cb-aa2e-4eff80c95df5.png)\

Thank You...........!!!

\

You should read also this Article - **[Insert, Delete, Update in SQL using web service in ASP.NET](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1107/insert-delete-update-in-sql-using-web-service-in-asp-dot-net)**

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1141/search-functionality-in-asp-dot-net-mvc-4

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.