RESTful API return conventions

Question

I'm still learning c# web API at the moment, and I've faced some problems.

so the code snippet below shows a portion of my codes that will create a new student in the database, what I am trying to do is to create the object and if it succeeded, it will return a HTTP-CREATED http response code and return the STUDENT OBJECT.

if it fails, it should return a HTTP-BADREQUEST response code and ALSO return the STUDENT OBJECT.

HOWEVER, in order to return the response code, I am unable to return a student object and vice-versa due to the return type set, hence, the dilemma.

// POST api/student
        public HttpResponseMessage PostStudent(Models.Student student)
        {
            if (DBManager.createStudent(student) != null)
                return new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.Created);
                // HOW TO RETURN STUDENT OBJECT?
            else
                return new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest);
                // HOW TO RETURN STUDENT OBJECT?
        }

Answer 1

HttpRequestMessageExtensions.CreateResponse<T> Method具有一个可选的正式参数，称为value ，可用于创建同时包含状态代码和对象的HttpResponseMessage 。

return Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.Created, student);

Answer 2

I'll tell you my own experience of building a web server for my company: DON'T use WebApi. There are so many limitations and in short, supports a very narrow usage scenario. Just stick to the traditional MVC controllers and life is much easier:

public ActionResult PostStudent(Models.Student s){
    //do something
    Response.StatusCode = 400;
    return Json(s);
}