---
title: "What is the difference between BasicHttpBinding and WSHttpBinding?"  
description: "What is the difference between BasicHttpBinding and WSHttpBinding?"  
author: "ICSM Computer"  
published: 2025-05-28  
updated: 2025-05-28  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34174/what-is-the-difference-between-basichttpbinding-and-wshttpbinding  
category: "c#"  
tags: ["c#", "wcf"]  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# What is the difference between BasicHttpBinding and WSHttpBinding?

The key difference between `BasicHttpBinding` and `WSHttpBinding` in WCF lies in their **features, security, and interoperability**.

### [`BasicHttpBinding`](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34163/what-is-the-default-binding-in-wcf)

| Feature | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Based on | SOAP 1.1 |
| Interoperability | High — designed to work with legacy systems (e.g., ASMX web services) |
| Security | Basic — supports transport (HTTPS) or message-level security (optional) |
| Session support | **No** session support by default |
| WS-* standards | Minimal — does **not** support advanced WS-* features |
| Use case | When working with older systems or non-WCF clients |

### [`WSHttpBinding`](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34162/what-are-the-main-types-of-bindings-in-wcf-give-examples)

| Feature | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Based on | SOAP 1.2 |
| Interoperability | Moderate — designed mainly for WCF-to-WCF communication |
| Security | Advanced — supports message-level security by default (encryption + signing) |
| Session support | **Yes** — supports reliable sessions and WS-ReliableMessaging |
| WS-* standards | Full — supports WS-Security, WS-ReliableMessaging, WS-AtomicTransaction |
| Use case | For secure, reliable, and transactional communication between WCF services |

### 🔍 Summary

| Feature | `BasicHttpBinding` | `WSHttpBinding` |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SOAP version | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Interoperability | High | Medium |
| Message security | Optional | On by default |
| Reliable messaging | Not supported | Supported |
| Transactions | Not supported | Supported |
| Session support | No | Yes |
| Ideal for | Legacy clients / ASMX interop | Secure WCF-to-WCF communication |

## Answers

### Answer by ICSM Computer

The key difference between `BasicHttpBinding` and `WSHttpBinding` in WCF lies in their **features, security, and interoperability**.

### [`BasicHttpBinding`](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34163/what-is-the-default-binding-in-wcf)

| Feature | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Based on | SOAP 1.1 |
| Interoperability | High — designed to work with legacy systems (e.g., ASMX web services) |
| Security | Basic — supports transport (HTTPS) or message-level security (optional) |
| Session support | **No** session support by default |
| WS-* standards | Minimal — does **not** support advanced WS-* features |
| Use case | When working with older systems or non-WCF clients |

### [`WSHttpBinding`](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34162/what-are-the-main-types-of-bindings-in-wcf-give-examples)

| Feature | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Based on | SOAP 1.2 |
| Interoperability | Moderate — designed mainly for WCF-to-WCF communication |
| Security | Advanced — supports message-level security by default (encryption + signing) |
| Session support | **Yes** — supports reliable sessions and WS-ReliableMessaging |
| WS-* standards | Full — supports WS-Security, WS-ReliableMessaging, WS-AtomicTransaction |
| Use case | For secure, reliable, and transactional communication between WCF services |

### 🔍 Summary

| Feature | `BasicHttpBinding` | `WSHttpBinding` |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SOAP version | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Interoperability | High | Medium |
| Message security | Optional | On by default |
| Reliable messaging | Not supported | Supported |
| Transactions | Not supported | Supported |
| Session support | No | Yes |
| Ideal for | Legacy clients / ASMX interop | Secure WCF-to-WCF communication |


---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34174/what-is-the-difference-between-basichttpbinding-and-wshttpbinding

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