Difference between WCF and Web API
Windows Communication Foundation (WCF):
WCF is used to create a distributed and interoperable Applications. It provides a framework which is used for building service-oriented-connected applications for the transmission of the data as an asynchronous, from one service-point to other service-point. Previously known as Indigo and is a framework for building, configuring, and deploying network-distributed services.
Web Application Programming Interface (Web API):
To create web applications ASP.NET provide the 3 development styles which are ASP.NET Web Pages, ASP.NET MVC, Web Forms.It is like a webservice or WCF service but the exception is that it only supports HTTP protocol.
Difference between WCF and Web API:
SR.NO. |
WCF |
WEB API |
1 |
WCF ships with .NET framework to create secure, reliable, and high profile development solutions. |
While, WEB API is a open source and also ships with .NET framework. |
2 |
WCF offers supports for limited RESTFUL service. |
WEB API is ideal for building RESTFUL services. |
3 |
WCF used the web.config and attributes to configure a HttpConfiguration class |
Web API can be configured using web.config service. |
4 |
It depend on the attributes based programming model. |
WEB API maps http verbs to methods |
5 |
WCF does not provide any support for MVC features like controllers, routing, filter, auction results, etc. |
ASP.NET Web API supports MVC features like routing, controllers, results, filter, action, etc. |
6 |
It is not open source software. |
It is shipped with.Net framework.It is also available as an independent download. |
7 |
It rely on IIS hosting, Self-hosting & works activation services. |
It rely on Self-hosting & IIS hosting. |
Last Updated :
13 Feb, 2020
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