ASP.NET Web API - return CLR object or HttpResponseMessage

Question

What seems to be general practice in Web API for return types from action methods?

Returning CLR objects like so:

public IEnumerable          


        

Answer 1

I think the first option is the best. In any case if there is no error the return code will be 200 without any setting on your side.

If there is any exception you could throw a HttpResponseException with the appropiate code and message

throw new HttpResponseException(
    Request.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.BadRequest, 'Your message'))