How can i count image views in ASP.NET MVC

Question

I want intercept all request for image files, but i am not getting a way to do it,

One way is to create an action in MVC controller and return all image files from it,

 public HttpResponseMessage Get(Guid id)
    {
        var path = HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath(string.Format("/OriginalImages/{0}.jpg", id));
        byte[] fileData = File.Exists(path) ? File.ReadAllBytes(path) : new byte[0];
        MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream(fileData);
        HttpResponseMessage result = new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        result.Content = new ByteArrayContent(ms.ToArray());
        result.Content.Headers.ContentType = new MediaTypeHeaderValue("image/png");
        return  result;
    }

but it does not seems good idea as i noted that image access request completing in 15-20 milliseconds, while direct image access via path takes 5-6 milliseconds.

I tried using Owin Middleware, but it do not get executed on image file requests.

How can i achieve this? I want to increment view count of image file by this.

Answer 1

You would have to configure IIS (either through the IIS management interface or the application web.conifg) so it maps service all requests for images through ASP.NET. Then write a handler that will do whatever you want when the image is requested.