Difference between WCF and Web API and WCF REST and Web Service

Difference between WCF and Web API and WCF REST and Web Service

l  Web Service

n  It is based on SOAP and return data in XML form.

n  It support only HTTP protocol.

n  It is not open source but can be consumed by any client that understands xml.

n  It can be hosted only on IIS.

l  WCF

n  It is also based on SOAP and return data in XML form.

n  It is the evolution of the web service(ASMX) and support various protocols like TCP, HTTP, HTTPS, Named Pipes, MSMQ.

n  The main issue with WCF is, its tedious and extensive configuration.

n  It is not open source but can be consumed by any client that understands xml.

n  It can be hosted with in the applicaion or on IIS or using window service.

l  WCF Rest

n  To use WCF as WCF Rest service you have to enable webHttpBindings.

n  It support HTTP GET and POST verbs by [WebGet] and [WebInvoke] attributes respectively.

n  To enable other HTTP verbs you have to do some configuration in IIS to accept request of that particular verb on .svc files

n  Passing data through parameters using a WebGet needs configuration. The UriTemplate must be specified

n  It support XML, JSON and ATOM data format.

l  Web API

n  This is the new framework for building HTTP services with easy and simple way.

n  Web API is open source an ideal platform for building REST-ful services over the .NET Framework.

n  Unlike WCF Rest service, it use the full featues of HTTP (like URIs, request/response headers, caching, versioning, various content formats)

n  It also supports the MVC features such as routing, controllers, action results, filter, model binders, IOC container or dependency injection, unit testing that makes it more simple and robust.

n  It can be hosted with in the application or on IIS.

n  It is light weight architecture and good for devices which have limited bandwidth like smart phones.

n  Responses are formatted by Web API’s MediaTypeFormatter into JSON, XML or whatever format you want to add as a MediaTypeFormatter.