What is FormCollection

Introduction

FormCollection is a way to get all form input values in Controller.

• When user fills form and clicks submit

• All data goes to Controller

• We can access it using FormCollection

👉 Think like:

FormCollection = "bag of all form values"

Step 1: Create Simple Form (View)

@using (Html.BeginForm("SaveData", "Home", FormMethod.Post))
{
    <label>Name:</label>
    <input type="text" name="Name" />

    <br />

    <label>Email:</label>
    <input type="text" name="Email" />

    <br />

    <label>Age:</label>
    <input type="number" name="Age" />

    <br />

    <input type="submit" value="Submit" />
}

What is this?

Step 2: Controller Code

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult SaveData(FormCollection form)
{
    // Get data from form
    string name = form["Name"];
    string email = form["Email"];
    string age = form["Age"];

    // Just for testing (display data)
    ViewBag.Message = "Name: " + name +
                      ", Email: " + email +
                      ", Age: " + age;

    return View("Result");
}

Step 3: Show Data (Result View)

<h2>@ViewBag.Message</h2>

What is this?

Output Example

If user enters:

• Name = Abhay

• Email = [email protected]

• Age = 22

👉 Output:

Name: Abhay, Email: [email protected], Age: 22

Important Points (Very Easy)

1. Name attribute is VERY important

<input type="text" name="Name" />

What is this?

👉 Controller will use this:

form["Name"]

2. FormCollection stores data as Key-Value

👉 Example:

Name = Abhay
Email = [email protected]

3. Everything comes as string

👉 Even Age is string:

int age = Convert.ToInt32(form["Age"]);

Real Example with Convert

[HttpPost]
public ActionResult SaveData(FormCollection form)
{
    string name = form["Name"];
    int age = Convert.ToInt32(form["Age"]);

    return Content("Name: " + name + ", Age: " + age);
}

Disadvantages of FormCollection

• Not type safe

• No validation automatically

• Hard to manage large forms

Better Option (Recommended)

👉 Use Model Binding instead of FormCollection

public ActionResult SaveData(Student model)
{
    string name = model.Name;
}

When to Use FormCollection

• Small forms

• Quick testing

• When model not required

Simple Real-Life Example

👉 Think:

• Form = Shopping form

• FormCollection = Basket

• Each item = Key-Value

Conclusion

FormCollection is:

• Easy

• Fast

• Beginner-friendly

But for real projects → use Model