Web Reference vs. Service Reference: What's the Key Difference for .NET Developers?

Understanding the Difference Between Web Reference and Service Reference

When it comes to interacting with web services, .NET developers have two main choices: Web Reference and Service Reference. Both technologies have their unique characteristics, but what exactly is the difference between them?

Web Reference

Web Reference is the older of the two technologies, dating back to the days of classic ASP.NET web services (.asmx). It utilizes the XmlSerializer to generate proxy classes that enable communication with the target web service.

Service Reference

Service Reference, on the other hand, is a newer technology introduced with the advent of WCF (Windows Communication Foundation). It provides a more advanced and flexible way to consume web services, using a standardized set of protocols and data contracts.

Choosing Between Web Reference and Service Reference

The choice between Web Reference and Service Reference depends on several factors, including:

• Development environment: Web Reference is available in all types of projects, while Service Reference is specifically designed for WCF projects.
• Interop needs: Web Reference offers seamless interoperability with legacy ASMX web services, while Service Reference is better suited for modern, standards-based services.
• Advanced features: Service Reference supports numerous advanced features, such as data binding, asynchronous calls, and extensibility, which are not available in Web Reference.

Separating Reference into Another Project

If you need to separate the service reference into another project, you can add it to a Class Library or Shared Library project. This allows you to reuse the reference across multiple applications.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between Web Reference and Service Reference is crucial for .NET developers. By choosing the appropriate technology based on their specific requirements, developers can leverage the features and benefits of each approach effectively.

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