ASP.NET MVC View Model / Model not binding on HTTP Post

Problem Scenario:

I am having an issue that when I post to a controller, I loose model binding and everything in my model is NULL. Here is the code that I am using:

View:

@model Models.StateDTO
@using (Html.BeginForm("AddState", "Home",new {area="Admin" }, FormMethod.Post))
{
@Html.AntiForgeryToken()
@Html.ValidationSummary(true)

State Name

@Html.TextBoxFor(m => m.State)
@Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => m.State)

}

Model:

public class StateDTO

    {        

        public int Id { get; set; }

  

        [Required]

        public string State { get; set; }      

    }

Controller:

        [HttpPost]

        [ValidateAntiForgeryToken]

        public ActionResult AddState(StateDTO state)

        {

            if (state != null && ModelState.IsValid)

            {

                //.....

            }

            return View();

        }

Why is everything in my model (i.e. StateDTO state) NULL?

Solution:

One possible reason for view model is NULL :

·         The name of model in action parameter be the same as one of view model's properties

Ex: Here, same name means case insensitive (State is same as state)

Hence, the correct controller action method should be like below:

        [HttpPost]

        [ValidateAntiForgeryToken]

        public ActionResult AddState(StateDTO vwState)

        {

            if (vwState != null && ModelState.IsValid)

            {

                //.....

            }

            return View();

        }

Here, "State" property name in model is different then action parameter i.e."vwState"

Hope this helps... Cheers :)