Why can't ASP.NET MVC URL routing find my controller?

In my Global.asax.cs file in RegisterRoutes method, I put

routes.MapRoute("messages", 
    "Message/{id}", 
    new { controller = "Archive", action = "Message", id = 0 });

Then I created this controller:

namespace TestingApp.Controllers
{
    public class ArchiveController : Controller
    {
        public string Message(int id)
        {
            return "testing: you will receive the message: " + id.ToString();
        }
    }
}

But in my browsser when I go to:

http://.../Message/34

I get a 404.

What else do I need to define so that the routing finds my controller?

From stackoverflow

• Try defining your specific route before the Default one:

  routes.MapRoute(
      "messages",
      "Message/{id}",
      new { controller = "Archive", action = "Message", id = 0 });
  
  routes.MapRoute(
      "Default",
      "{controller}/{action}/{id}",
      new { controller = "Home", action = "Index", id = "" });
  

• I think your Message method should return an ActionResult instance:

  public ActionResult Message(int id)
  {
      return new ContentResult {
          Content = "testing: you will receive the message: " + id.ToString()
      };
  }
  

  AnthonyWJones : A controller returning a string is acceptable in ASP.NET-MVC