How to load raw HTML into a string in C#?

Question

I need to store HTML code for an email template in a variable, so I want to load raw HTML source into a string. This obviously doesn't work if I can't escape its contents.

For instance, I can't do this:

string myHtml = "<html><body>
    <a href="foo.bar" class="blap">blip</a>
</body></html>";

How can I store HTML code as a native C# string?

where are you sending HTML code? how are you sending it? please clarify what you're trying to do — Jason
– Jason, Commented Oct 11, 2010 at 3:15
I just want to send html email, so I use a string to store the email contents — user469652
– user469652, Commented Oct 11, 2010 at 3:17
Adding characters to a string should be a piece of cake (it's what strings are for). How does it "obviously" not work? What's happening that's causing it to fail? — Michael Todd
– Michael Todd, Commented Oct 11, 2010 at 3:20
Phew, it's a serious question. Here I was afraid it was going to be a knock-knock joke. — Luke Schafer
– Luke Schafer, Commented Oct 11, 2010 at 3:25

Marc Gravell · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-11 03:33:30Z

35

Strings and HTML should be fine. The only complication is escaping, which is made easier using verbatim string literals (@"..."). Then you just double any double-quotes:

string body = @"<html><body>
<a href=""foo.bar"" class=""blap"">blip</a>
...
</body></html>";

answered Oct 11, 2010 at 3:33

Marc Gravell

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5 Comments

Marko Over a year ago

So @"" is called a verbatim string literal? I'm gonna upvote because up until now I've been saying use an @(at) sign before the quotes. Thank you @Marc.

Marc Gravell Over a year ago

@marko - yes, that is the official name. Yours works too, though ;)

user469652 Over a year ago

I'm not sure, but it just not working with my HTML coding, cos I've tried this, while the double quote still can't be properly interpreted . Could you try a more complex block of html? Like a whole page? Because the small block works on my computer either.

Marc Gravell Over a year ago

@user469652 - I think you need to find an example that doesn't work. As HTML is fine, honestly. If is doesn't work, you've either missed the @ or a "

nishanth gmk Over a year ago

Also we need to add double the number of brackets as well. In my case for {{userName}} it should be {{{{userName}}}}

Preet Sangha · Accepted Answer · 2010-10-11 03:34:29Z

7

If you html code is in a file you can File.ReadAllText

string myString = System.IO.File.ReadAllText("path to the file");

answered Oct 11, 2010 at 3:34

Preet Sangha

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Comments

Joel Coehoorn · Accepted Answer · 2024-10-10 20:01:49Z

0

Old, but C# now also has a Raw String Literal feature to make this even easier:

string myHtml = """<html><body>
    <a href="foo.bar" class="blap">blip</a>
</body></html>""";

No need to worry about the quotes in the string, and you can use any number of starting/ending quotes if for some reason you have text already containing sets of quotes together.

answered Oct 10, 2024 at 20:01

Joel Coehoorn

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