REST vs WCF: What are the differences?

## Key differences between REST and WCF

REST (Representational State Transfer) and WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) are both technologies used for building web services, but they have key differences that distinguish them from each other. 

1. **Architectural Style**: REST follows a simple architectural style based on standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, making it more lightweight and easier to understand. On the other hand, WCF is a comprehensive framework that supports various protocols and formats, offering more flexibility but at the cost of complexity.
   
2. **Interoperability**: REST services can be easily consumed by clients developed on different platforms and using different technologies due to its reliance on standard web protocols. In contrast, WCF services are tightly coupled with the Windows platform and require additional configuration for cross-platform interoperability, making it less versatile in heterogeneous environments.
   
3. **State Management**: RESTful services are stateless, meaning each request from the client contains all the information needed by the server to fulfill it, simplifying scalability and reliability. WCF, however, supports various communication patterns, including stateful services, which can maintain session information between multiple requests, offering more advanced capabilities but potentially introducing complexity and performance overhead.
   
4. **Service Contracts**: In REST, services are typically defined by uniform resource identifiers (URIs) representing resources, and their interactions are based on representing and manipulating resource representations. WCF, on the other hand, uses explicit service contracts defined by interfaces and data contracts, allowing for more fine-grained control over service behaviors and message formats.
   
5. **Protocol Support**: REST primarily uses HTTP as its communication protocol, leveraging its built-in features for addressing, routing, and security. WCF, in contrast, supports multiple communication protocols such as TCP, HTTP, and MSMQ, allowing for more diverse network configurations but potentially complicating service deployment and maintenance.
   
6. **Platform Compatibility**: REST services are platform-agnostic and can be hosted on any web server that supports HTTP, making them easier to deploy and integrate into existing systems. WCF services, on the other hand, are tightly integrated with the Windows operating system and require IIS (Internet Information Services) for hosting, limiting their portability and interoperability with non-Windows environments.

In Summary, the key differences between REST and WCF lie in their architectural style, interoperability, state management, service contracts, protocol support, and platform compatibility. Each technology offers unique advantages and trade-offs, making them suitable for different use cases depending on requirements.