web api method to return data in json format? - asp.net

Question

I am making a web api call and I want the controller method to return data in json format.
The model class I used is User.cs :
public partial class User
{
public int UserID { get; set; }
public string city { get; set; }
public string email { get; set; }
public string firstName { get; set; }
public string lastName { get; set; }
public string phone { get; set; }
public string password { get; set; }
}
I want to return all the users email data in json format through the following controller method.
public string GetUsers()
{
IEnumerable<User> users = db.Users.ToList();
var jsonSerialiser = new JavaScriptSerializer();
var json = jsonSerialiser.Serialize(users);
return json;
//string json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(users);
//return json;
}
All I am getting is empty json like:
[]
Please help. I have covered all the methods recommended on stackoverflow.

Answer 1

This is a lot simpler than you think, you do not need to use a jsonSerializer.
You can change your method to the following:
public List<string> GetEmails()
{
return db.Users.Select(e => e.email).ToList();
}
Then if the client specifies application/json the content is returned as json.
Please note with the above, I am only sending back the email address and not the full user details as I very much doubt you will want to send passwords out as json.