c# - Add custom header to all responses in Web API

Question

Simple question, and I am sure it has a simple answer but I can't find it.

I am using WebAPI and I would like to send back a custom header to all responses (server date/time requested by a dev for syncing purposes).

I am currently struggling to find a clear example of how, in one place (via the global.asax or another central location) I can get a custom header to appear for all responses.

---

Answer accepted, here is my filter (pretty much the same) and the line i added to the Register function of the WebApi config.

NOTE: The DateTime stuff is NodaTime, no real reason just was interested in looking at it.

    public override void OnActionExecuted(HttpActionExecutedContext actionExecutedContext)
    {
        actionExecutedContext.Response.Content.Headers.Add("ServerTime", Instant.FromDateTimeUtc(DateTime.Now.ToUniversalTime()).ToString());
    }

Config Line:

config.Filters.Add(new ServerTimeHeaderFilter());

Answer 1

For that you can use a custom ActionFilter (System.Web.Http.Filters)

public class AddCustomHeaderFilter : ActionFilterAttribute
{
    public override void OnActionExecuted(HttpActionExecutedContext actionExecutedContext)
    {
       actionExecutedContext.Response.Headers.Add("customHeader", "custom value date time");
    }
}

You can then apply the filter to all your controller's actions by adding this in the configuration in Global.asax for example :

GlobalConfiguration.Configuration.Filters.Add(new AddCustomHeaderFilter());

You can also apply the filter attribute to the action that you want without the global cofiguration line.