This method retrieves the specified resource. After it downloads the resource, the method uses the encoding specified in the Encoding property to convert the resource to a String. This method blocks while downloading the resource. To download a resource and continue executing while waiting for the server's response, use one of the DownloadStringAsync methods.

If the BaseAddress property is not an empty string ("") and address does not contain an absolute URI, address must be a relative URI that is combined with BaseAddress to form the absolute URI of the requested data. If the QueryString property is not an empty string, it is appended to address.

This method uses the RETR command to download an FTP resource. For an HTTP resource, the GET method is used.

Note:
This member outputs trace information when you enable network tracing in your application. For more information, see Network Tracing.

The following code example demonstrates calling this method.

        Public Shared Sub DownloadString(ByVal address As String)

            Dim client As WebClient = New WebClient()
            Dim reply As String = client.DownloadString(address)

            Console.WriteLine(reply)
        End Sub

public static void DownloadString (string address)
{
    WebClient client = new WebClient ();
    string reply = client.DownloadString (address);

    Console.WriteLine (reply);
}

void DownloadString( String^ address )
{
   WebClient^ client = gcnew WebClient;
   String^ reply = client->DownloadString( address );
   Console::WriteLine( reply );
}

void DownloadString (String* address)
{
    WebClient* client = new WebClient ();
    String* reply = client->DownloadString (address);

    Console::WriteLine (reply);
}

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98

.NET Framework

Reference