What is the Difference Between WCF Service and Web API?

When it comes to developing web services, two popular technologies are WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) Service and Web API. While both serve the purpose of enabling communication between client and server applications, there are key differences between them:

1. Technology Stack:

WCF is a part of the .NET framework and uses SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) for communication, making it a good choice for building interoperable services. On the other hand, Web API is built on top of the ASP.NET framework and uses HTTP for communication, making it ideal for building RESTful services.

2. Protocols and Formats:

WCF supports multiple protocols such as HTTP, TCP, Named Pipes, and MSMQ, and can work with various data formats including XML and JSON. In contrast, Web API primarily uses HTTP protocol and is designed to work with JSON format.

3. Client Support:

WCF has built-in support for a wide range of clients including .NET clients, Java clients, and JavaScript clients. Web API, on the other hand, is more suitable for clients that can communicate over HTTP, such as browsers and mobile apps.

4. Hosting:

WCF services are typically hosted in IIS or Windows Services, while Web API services can be hosted in IIS, self-hosted, or on Azure.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the choice between WCF Service and Web API depends on the specific requirements of your project. If you need to build interoperable services with support for various protocols, WCF may be the better option. However, if you are looking to build lightweight, RESTful services that can be consumed over HTTP, Web API is the way to go.

Remember to consider factors such as technology stack, protocols, client support, and hosting options when deciding between WCF Service and Web API for your web service development needs.