Difference Between WCF and ASP.NET Web API

When it comes to .Net Web Services, both WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) and ASP.NET Web API are popular frameworks used for building web services.

Key Differences:

• Primary Use: WCF is a general-purpose communication framework that can be used to build various types of services, including SOAP-based services, RESTful services, etc. ASP.NET Web API, on the other hand, is specifically designed for building RESTful services using HTTP as the primary protocol.
• Technology Stack: WCF is part of the larger .NET Framework and provides advanced features such as support for different protocols, message encodings, and security mechanisms. ASP.NET Web API is a lightweight framework that is part of the ASP.NET platform and focuses on making it easy to build HTTP-based services.
• Flexibility and Ease of Use: WCF provides a high level of flexibility and allows for fine-grained control over the communication protocol and message format. ASP.NET Web API, on the other hand, is more streamlined and easier to use for building RESTful services with minimal configuration required.

Overall, the choice between WCF and ASP.NET Web API depends on the specific requirements of the project and the level of control and flexibility needed for building web services.