---
title: "Difference between WCF and Web API"  
description: "Difference between WCF and Web API"  
author: "Pedro Araez"  
published: 2020-02-07  
updated: 2020-02-07  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/155795/difference-between-wcf-and-web-api  
category: "wcf"  
tags: ["wcf", "api(s)"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# Difference between WCF and Web API

Please briefly differentiate between [WCF and Web](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/32081/difference-between-wcf-and-web-api) API.

## Replies

### Reply by Nishi Tiwari

![Difference between WCF and Web API](https://www.mindstick.com/mindstickforums/a7a27d2e-c280-4756-aacb-5d115a01df29/images/63dfdf8d-7915-42e3-a92b-3e1996fb86cd.png)

- [WCF](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/513/introduction-to-wcf) mainly offers request-reply, one-way, or duplex whereas [Web API](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/324352/how-to-create-web-api-in-dot-net-core-3-1-mvc) is by default request-reply only.
- WCF is mostly used for developing **[SOAP-based services](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/155794/how-to-create-layout-view-in-asp-dot-net-mvc-razor-view)** whereas Web API is used for both SOAP-based and RESTful services.
- The WCF does not offer any support for MVC features whereas Web API supports MVC features.
- The WCF supports HTTP, UDP, and custom transport protocol whereas Web API supports only HTTP protocol.
- In WCF offers Text, MTOM, and Binary Encoding support whereas Web API supports the UTF-8 encoding format.
- In WCF, supports message queues, message security, duplex communication, transaction whereas Web API doesn’t support it.
- The WCF stands for Windows Communication Foundation whereas API stands for Application Program Interface.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/forum/155795/difference-between-wcf-and-web-api

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