What is the difference between ASMX and WCF in .NET web services?

What is the difference between ASMX and WCF in .NET web services?

ASMX (ASP.NET Web Services) and WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) are two different technologies used for creating web services in the .NET framework. Here are some key differences between ASMX and WCF:

• Technology: ASMX is based on the traditional XML Web Services technology while WCF is a more advanced framework for building service-oriented applications.
• Protocol Support: ASMX primarily supports HTTP and SOAP protocols, whereas WCF supports multiple protocols including HTTP, TCP, Named Pipes, and MSMQ.
• Interoperability: WCF provides better support for interoperability through its support for WS-* specifications and various protocols, making it easier to communicate with services built on different platforms.
• Message Exchange Patterns: WCF supports various message exchange patterns such as one-way, request-response, and duplex communication, while ASMX is limited to request-response pattern.
• Extensibility: WCF is more extensible and configurable compared to ASMX, allowing developers to customize various aspects of communication and behavior.

In general, if you are building new web services or looking for more advanced features and flexibility, WCF is the recommended choice over ASMX in the .NET framework.