Model binding comma separated query string parameter

Here's my improved version of Nathan Taylor’s solution used in archil's answer.

1. Nathan’s binder could only bind sub-properties of complex models, while mine can also bind individual controller arguments.
2. My binder also gives you correct handling of empty parameters, by returning an actual empty instance of your array or IEnumerable.

To wire this up, you can either attach this to an individual Controller argument:

[ModelBinder(typeof(CommaSeparatedModelBinder))]

…or set it as the global default binder in Application_Start in global.asax.cs:

ModelBinders.Binders.DefaultBinder = new CommaSeparatedModelBinder();

In the second case it will try and handle all IEnumerables and fall back to ASP.NET MVC standard implementation for everything else.

Behold:

public class CommaSeparatedModelBinder : DefaultModelBinder
{
    private static readonly MethodInfo ToArrayMethod = typeof(Enumerable).GetMethod("ToArray");

    public override object BindModel(ControllerContext controllerContext, ModelBindingContext bindingContext)
    {
        return BindCsv(bindingContext.ModelType, bindingContext.ModelName, bindingContext)
                ?? base.BindModel(controllerContext, bindingContext);
    }

    protected override object GetPropertyValue(ControllerContext controllerContext, ModelBindingContext bindingContext, System.ComponentModel.PropertyDescriptor propertyDescriptor, IModelBinder propertyBinder)
    {
        return BindCsv(propertyDescriptor.PropertyType, propertyDescriptor.Name, bindingContext)
                ?? base.GetPropertyValue(controllerContext, bindingContext, propertyDescriptor, propertyBinder);
    }

    private object BindCsv(Type type, string name, ModelBindingContext bindingContext)
    {
        if (type.GetInterface(typeof(IEnumerable).Name) != null)
        {
            var actualValue = bindingContext.ValueProvider.GetValue(name);

            if (actualValue != null)
            {
                var valueType = type.GetElementType() ?? type.GetGenericArguments().FirstOrDefault();

                if (valueType != null && valueType.GetInterface(typeof(IConvertible).Name) != null)
                {
                    var list = (IList)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(List<>).MakeGenericType(valueType));

                    foreach (var splitValue in actualValue.AttemptedValue.Split(new[] { ',' }))
                    {
                            if(!String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(splitValue))
                                list.Add(Convert.ChangeType(splitValue, valueType));
                    }

                    if (type.IsArray)
                        return ToArrayMethod.MakeGenericMethod(valueType).Invoke(this, new[] { list });
                    else
                        return list;
                }
            }
        }

        return null;
    }
}

Default model binder expects simple type lists to be in the format

name=value&name=value2&name=value3

To use builtin binding, you should change your query string to

Action?ids=4783&ids=5063&ids=5305

Or create custom model binder. You may take a look at following article (code from there)

public class CommaSeparatedValuesModelBinder : DefaultModelBinder
{
    private static readonly MethodInfo ToArrayMethod = typeof(Enumerable).GetMethod("ToArray");

    protected override object GetPropertyValue(ControllerContext controllerContext, ModelBindingContext bindingContext, System.ComponentModel.PropertyDescriptor propertyDescriptor, IModelBinder propertyBinder)
    {
        if (propertyDescriptor.PropertyType.GetInterface(typeof(IEnumerable).Name) != null)
        {
            var actualValue = bindingContext.ValueProvider.GetValue(propertyDescriptor.Name);

            if (actualValue != null && !String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(actualValue.AttemptedValue) && actualValue.AttemptedValue.Contains(","))
            {
                var valueType = propertyDescriptor.PropertyType.GetElementType() ?? propertyDescriptor.PropertyType.GetGenericArguments().FirstOrDefault();

                if (valueType != null && valueType.GetInterface(typeof(IConvertible).Name) != null)
                {
                    var list = (IList)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(List<>).MakeGenericType(valueType));

                    foreach (var splitValue in actualValue.AttemptedValue.Split(new[] { ',' }))
                    {
                        list.Add(Convert.ChangeType(splitValue, valueType));
                    }

                    if (propertyDescriptor.PropertyType.IsArray)
                    {
                        return ToArrayMethod.MakeGenericMethod(valueType).Invoke(this, new[] { list });
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        return list;
                    }
                }
            }
        }

        return base.GetPropertyValue(controllerContext, bindingContext, propertyDescriptor, propertyBinder);
    }
}