Difference between Web Service ASMX WCF REST SVC and Web APIasmx Righ click gt add new item gt Web ServiceASMX as well asSVC services Righ click gt add new item gt WCF Service and web api Righ click gt add new item gt Web API 2 Controller inMVC Do practically they all 3 differ from each other

Web Service asmxIt is based on SOAP and return data in XML formIt support only HTTP protocolIt is not open source but can be consumed by any client that understands xmlIt can be hosted only on IISWCF svcIt is also based on SOAP and return data in XML formIt is the evolution of the web serviceASMX and support various protocols like TCP HTTP HTTPS Named Pipes MSMQThe main issue with WCF is its tedious and extensive configurationIt is not open source but can be consumed by any client that understands xmlIt can be hosted with in the applicaion or on IIS or using window serviceWeb APIThis is the new framework for building HTTP services with easy and simple wayWeb API is open source an ideal platform for building RESTful services over the NET FrameworkUnlike WCF Rest service it use the full feature of HTTP like URIs requestresponse headers caching versioning various content formatsIt also supports the MVC features such as routing controllers action results