Why tilde and slash doesnt work in Asp.net MVC application?

Question

When I write this code

string[] filePaths = Directory.GetFiles(@"~/Content/Images/");

I get System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\IIS Express\\Content\\Images' . How should I write correctly? I have the folder "Images" and "Content", and I dont want to hardcode a path. Also, it works when I write in html code like <img src="~/Content/Images/Img.jpg" for example

Answer 1

Use HostingEnvironment.ApplicationPhysicalPath with Path.Combine , like:

string[] filePaths = Directory.GetFiles(Path.Combine
                             (HostingEnvironment.ApplicationPhysicalPath, 
                              "Content/Images"));

Or

Use HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath , like:

string[] filePaths = Directory.GetFiles(HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath
                                        (@"~/Content/Images/"));

Answer 2

MVC has its own HttpContext (HttpContextBase) which it gets from Controller. If you want to use the general context you just need to use the fully qualified name

string[] filePaths = Directory.GetFiles(System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath
                                    (@"~/Content/Images/"));