Web API
1. This is the new
framework for building HTTP services with easy and simple way.
2. Web API is open source an
ideal platform for building REST-full services over the .NET Framework.
3. Unlike WCF Rest service, it
use the full features of HTTP (like URIs, request/response headers, caching,
versioning, various content formats)
4. 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.
5. It can be hosted with in the
application or on IIS.
6. It is light weight
architecture and good for devices which have limited bandwidth like smart
phones.
7. Responses are formatted by Web
API’s MediaTypeFormatter into JSON, XML or whatever format you want to add as a
MediaTypeFormatter.
WCF REST
1. To use WCF as WCF Rest service
you have to enable webHttpBindings.
2. It support HTTP GET and POST
verbs by [WebGet] and [WebInvoke] attributes respectively.
3. To enable other HTTP verbs you
have to do some configuration in IIS to accept request of that particular verb
on .svc files
4. Passing data through
parameters using a WebGet needs configuration. The UriTemplate must be
specified
5. It support XML, JSON and ATOM
data format.
