Html.ValidationSummary(false, “message”) is always showing, even on page load

Question

I am using client side validation and I would like the message below to show only when I have an error. I am trying to use this a general error in case any field is invalid.

Answer 1

I think the issue is the fact the Html.ValidationSummary has to appear before the Html.BeginForm otherwise the message is always displayed.

Answer 2

If you use a developer tool in your browser to inspect the validation summary text you'll see that it has the class validation-summary-valid when it is clear but validation-summary-errors when there are form errors.

Therefore, just create a css rule as follows;

.validation-summary-valid {
    display:none;
}

and all should be good.

Answer 3

Initially I was checking for a List property on page load so I thought of passing a new model. Then the validation summary just appeared. When I changed my code from

return View(new myModel)

to

return View()

the validation summary did not appear on Get. I also added a null check on the model when checking the property so I can use the latter code.