The ASP.NET Web API framework

ASP.NET Web API provides an easy and extensible mechanism to expose data and functionality to a broad range of clients, including browsers and modern web and mobile apps. The most significant aspect of ASP.NET Web API is that it is targeted to enable support for HTTP and RESTful services. In this section, we will discuss the nuts and bolts of the Web API framework.

Note

In the context of this book, the words ASP.NET Web API, Web API, and HTTP Services represent the same thing unless explicitly mentioned. This chapter assumes that the reader has knowledge about HTTP, REST, and Web API, in general. For more information on these technologies, please refer to the introduction chapter of this book.