How to create custom BaseController to keep data about user while user is logged in

Question

I use SimpleMembership in my app and when I need to get the current user's userId I use WebSecurity.CurrentUserId but this invokes the database and I need to reduce this call to the database.

That is why I want to create BaseController : Controller to store userId here. What is the best way to implement this?

I can create:

public class BaseController : Controller
{
     public int CurrentUserId { get; set; }
     ...

And after login set this value. But I am sure that this should not be so simple.

Answer 1

Set the User property on your HttpContext to your logged in user. Like this (pulled from my CustomPrincipal implementation)...

In your Global.asax:

protected void Application_PostAuthenticateRequest(Object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    /// Code to get user
    ...
    ContextHelper.GetHttpContextBase().User = user;
}

In another helper class:

public static class ContextHelper
{
    public static HttpContextBase GetHttpContextBase()
    {
        return new HttpContextWrapper(HttpContext.Current);
    }
}

Then in your BaseController:

public abstract class BaseController : Controller
{
    public new HttpContextBase HttpContext { get; private set; }

    protected virtual new ICustomPrincipal User
    {
        get { return HttpContext.User as ICustomPrincipal; }
    }
}