HttpUtility.ParseQueryString save the day...

Imagine when coding, you're getting a querystring as a parameter in string format with something like "studentid=1024&stateid=12&zipcode=90210&editmode=false". To manipulate the zip code value how would you normally do?

Guess what, I'll blindly do a string manipulation to get or update the value. This is inefficient (on second thought, I feel like I'm stupid). I just noticed that there's an easy way available in .NET Framework that will make my life easier. It's available since .NET Framework 2.0!!! HttpUtility.ParseQueryString definitely save me from headache.

Sample code:

    private void SomeFunction()
    {
        const string queryString = "studentid=1024&stateid=12&zipcode=90210&editmode=false";

        // Parses a query string into a NameValueCollection using UTF8 encoding.
        var collection = HttpUtility.ParseQueryString(queryString);

        // Original value
        Console.WriteLine("original value in string format : ");
        Console.WriteLine("{0}", collection);

        // Get existing value
        Console.WriteLine("existing value : {0}", collection.Get("zipcode"));

        // Set new value
        collection.Set("zipcode", "10001");

        // Display the new value
        Console.WriteLine("updated value : {0}", collection.Get("zipcode"));

        // Convert back to string
        Console.WriteLine("value in string format");
        Console.WriteLine("{0}", collection);
    }

Here's the output:

    original value in string format :
    studentid=1024&stateid=12&zipcode=90210&editmode=false
    existing value : 90210
    updated value : 10001
    value in string format
    studentid=1024&stateid=12&zipcode=10001&editmode=false
    Press any key to continue . . .