>>Hi,
>>
>>I created a HelloWorld Web API solution in VS 2013. I left all the code automatically created by VS unchanged.
>>On executing of this project the VS opens the browser and puts the following URL: "localhost:53757" which shows a descriptive ASP.NET page created by VS.
>>Then when I add "/api/values" to this URL making it "localhost:53757/api/values" and the browser returns the array of two values (from the Controller class).
>>
>>I would like to understand better the WebApiConfig class which is in the APP_START folder. This class calls method Register and passes the HttpConfiguration config. I have two questions, please:
>>
>>1. Do I understand correctly that this class (WebApiConfig) and method are called ONLY ONE TIME when you start the Web API (project)? Why I think so: I set a debug point in this class, and the debug point is hit only once when I execute the proejct. When I add the "/api/values" to the localhost:53757 (making it localhost:53757/api/value) code in the class WebApiConfig does not fire and debut point is not hit.
>>
>>2. Below is the code of the WebApiConfig class. Could someone please explain it - in English - as simply as possible (if possible).
>>
>>

>>   public static class WebApiConfig
>>    {
>>        public static void Register(HttpConfiguration config)
>>        {
>>            // Web API configuration and services
>>
>>            // Web API routes
>>            config.MapHttpAttributeRoutes();
>>
>>            config.Routes.MapHttpRoute(
>>                name: "DefaultApi",
>>                routeTemplate: "api/{controller}/{id}",
>>                defaults: new { id = RouteParameter.Optional }
>>            );
>>        }
>>    }
>>

>>
>
>I have a question related to the Controller class. I thought I would start a new thread but since it is part of the same project that uses the class WebApiConfig (above), I am posting my question here.
>
>When I enter in the browser the URL localhost:53757/api/value the browser returns 2 values ('value1' and 'value2'). The controls class from where these values are taken are below:
>
>

>  public class ValuesController : ApiController
>    {
>        // GET api/values
>        public IEnumerable<string> Get()
>        {
>            return new string[] { "value1", "value2" };
>        }
>
>        // GET api/values/5
>        public string Get(int id)
>        {
>            return "value";
>        }
>

>
>I don't understand why the URL that has the key word 'value' fires the method Get() above? I don't see the word 'value' anywhere in this class. What am I missing?

As early using MapHttpRoute() can be hard to debug/understand. Do yourself a favour and stay away from it. Your class should work as expected using attributes instead:

    [RoutePrefix("api")]
    public class ValuesController : ApiController
    {
        // GET api/values
        [Route("values")]
        [HttpGet]
        public IEnumerable<string> Get()
        {
            return new string[] { "value1", "value2" };
        }

        [Route("values/{id}")]
        [HttpGet]
        public string Get(int id)
        {
            return "value";
        }
    }

Note that the actual method name is irrelevant from a WebApi POV.