jquery - Javascript and MVC return types -

i have javascript in page of asp.net mvc project:

function showalliancemembers_onclick() {     var strname = $("#alliancenametextbox").val();      $.ajax(     {         type: "post",         url: "/alliance/index",         data: "alliancename=" + strname,         success: function (result) {             if (result.success) {                 alert("done!");             }             else {                 alert("error!!");             }         },         error: function (req, status, error) {             alert(error);         }     }); } 

as know, script calling mvc action. here mvc action:

[httppost] public actionresult index(string alliancename) {     //populating object containing list (ilist)      return view(res); } 

the problem here javascript code shows alert error message... what's wrong in code?

in controller action not sending json, simple view. there no .success property defined on result variable. here's how ajax request like:

$.ajax({     type: "post",     url: "/alliance/index",     data: { alliancename: strname },     success: function (result) {         // if got far ajax request succeeded, result variable         // contain final html of rendered view         alert("done!");     },     error: function (req, status, error) {         alert(error);     } }); 

or if want send json controller action:

[httppost] public actionresult index(string alliancename) {     // populate result             return json(new { success = true, result = res }); } 

and then:

$.ajax({     type: "post",     url: "/alliance/index",     data: { alliancename: strname },     success: function (result) {         if (result.success) {             // result.res             alert("done!");         }     },     error: function (req, status, error) {         alert(error);     } });