> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://bharat-tiwari.gitbook.io/asp-net-mvc-scribblings/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://bharat-tiwari.gitbook.io/asp-net-mvc-scribblings/asp.net-mvc/passing-data-in-mvc/viewdata-viewbag.md).

# ViewData / ViewBag

To pass data from Controller to View - use ViewData or ViewBag

In controller's action code:

```csharp
ViewData["MyData"] = "Some Example Data";
```

and you use it in View as below

```markup
<div>
    My data  I received from controller is: 
    @ViewData["MyData"]
</div>
```

ViewBag is syntactical sugar for ViewData, where instead of using array-like syntax(square brackets) to add a data-key, we use object-like syntax(. notation) to the add data-key:

But ViewBag uses `dynamic` keyword internally, which in turn uses `reflections` internally to figure out the datatype of data at the run time and hence usually more expensive process that simply using `ViewData`.

In controller's action code:

```csharp
ViewBag.MyData = "Some Example Data";
```

and you use it in View as below

```markup
<div>
    My data  I received from controller is: 
    @ViewBag.MyData
</div>
```

ViewBag or ViewData can be passed only from a controller's action to view, its not passed from one action to another action.

You can redirect the control from one action to another action using the method `RedirectToAction(<<actionName>>, <<controller>>)`

```csharp
public class HomeController: Controller{
 public ActionResult Index(){
     ViewBag.MyOriginalData = "Data from Index action"; // this data will not be available in the below action we are redirected to
     return RedirectToAction("Home", "Home");
 }

 public ActionResult Home() {
     ViewBag.MyData = "Some Example Data";
     return View();
 }
}
```

To pass data from one action to another, use [TempData](https://jsified-brains.gitbooks.io/asp-net-mvc-scribblings/content/tempdata.html).