In this article I will explain with an example, how to use DownloadFile function of WebClient class in C# and VB.Net.
 
 

ASPSnippets Test API

The following API will be used in this article.
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aspsnippets/test/master/Customers.json
The API returns the following JSON.
[
 {
    "CustomerId": 1,
    "Name": "John Hammond",
    "Country": "United States"
 },
 {
    "CustomerId": 2,
    "Name": "Mudassar Khan",
    "Country": "India"
 },
 {
    "CustomerId": 3,
    "Name": "Suzanne Mathews",
    "Country": "France"
 },
 {
    "CustomerId": 4,
    "Name": "Robert Schidner",
    "Country": "Russia"
 }
]
 
 

Namespaces

You will need to import the following namespace.
C#
using System.Net;
 
VB.Net
Imports System.Net
 
 

Using DownloadFile function of WebClient class

Inside the Page_Load event handler, first the Security Protocol is set.
Note: For .Net Framework version 4.5 and above, please refer Using TLS1.2 with HttpClient in C# and VB.Net.
 
Then, the JSON file is downloaded from the URL using DownloadFile method of the WebClient class.

DownloadFile method

It accepts the following two parameters:
address – The URL of the file to be downloaded.
fileName – Path of the Folder (Directory) where the file will be downloaded.
C#
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    ServicePointManager.Expect100Continue = true;
    ServicePointManager.SecurityProtocol = (SecurityProtocolType)3072;
    WebClient webClient = new WebClient();
    webClient.DownloadFile("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aspsnippets/test/master/Customers.json", @"D:\Files\Customers.json";)
}
 
VB.Net
Protected Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
    ServicePointManager.Expect100Continue = True
    ServicePointManager.SecurityProtocol = CType(3072, SecurityProtocolType)
    Dim webClient As WebClient = New WebClient()
    webClient.DownloadFile("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aspsnippets/test/master/Customers.json", "D:\Files\Customers.json")
End Sub
 
 

Screenshot

The downloaded JSON file

Using DownloadFile function of WebClient class in C# and VB.Net
 
 

Downloads

Download Code