Objective
This article will give a step by step visual explanation of how to create a REST enabled WCF service.
Back Ground
I have written before also REST enabled service. I was success to create REST service but now I realized that was the bit complex way. To have an understanding of REST service read my other articles.
Step1
Create an empty web site. To do this, File -> New -> Web Site.
Step 2
Right click on the project in solution and add WCF Service as new item. Give any name to the service. I am giving Search.svc.
Step 3
We are going to create a very simple service. This service will return a string.
Search.svc
public
string DoWork(string Name )
{
return
“HI , “ + Name + ” Welcome to simplest REST Service”;
}
public
string GetGreetingAsFunction(string Name)
{
return
“HI , “ + Name + ” Welcome to simplest REST Service”;
}
Constructing URI to invoke the service
[OperationContract]
[WebGet(UriTemplate=“/Search?name={name}”,BodyStyle= WebMessageBodyStyle.Bare)]
string GetGreeting(string name);
The above function will get call by URL
http://localhost:61131/MyRestService/Search.svc/Search?Name=Dhananjay
[OperationContract]
[WebGet]
string GetGreetingAsFunction(string name);
The above function will get call by URL
http://localhost:61131/MyRestService/Search.svc/GetGreetingAsFunction?Name=Dhananjay
In this case , we have not constructed any URI so , we will call by calling the function name directly and passing the parameter appended with ? mark.
So , contract could be consolidted as
ISearch.cs
[ServiceContract]
public
interface
ISearch
{
[OperationContract]
[WebGet(UriTemplate = “/Search?name={name}”, BodyStyle = WebMessageBodyStyle.Bare)]
string GetGreeting(string name);
[OperationContract]
[WebGet]
string GetGreetingAsFunction(string name);
}
Few Points to be noted,
- Add namespace System.ServiceModel.Web
- There are two methods WebGet and WebInvoke is available
- WebGet is for HTTP Get operation
- WebInvoke is for otherHTTP operations.
- Make sure in braces the parameter is same as parameter of the function. In this case it is name
- GetGreetingAsFunction (string name) will be called by giving function name in the URI
- The above service will be available at uri
Step 4
Modifying the Config file to make service as REST enabled service
Create the End Point Behavior, add the below End Point behavior inside <Behavior> tag.
<endpointBehaviors>
<behavior
name =“REST“>
<webHttp/>
</behavior>
</endpointBehaviors>
Modify the End Point setting. Give WebHttpBinding as binding. And provide behavior we created above as behavior name.
<endpoint
address=“”
binding=“webHttpBinding“
contract=“ISearch“
behaviorConfiguration=“REST“>
After putting all together Web.Config wil look like
Web.Config
<?xml
version=“1.0“?>
<configuration>
<system.serviceModel>
<behaviors>
<serviceBehaviors>
<behavior
name=“SearchBehavior“>
<serviceMetadata
httpGetEnabled=“true“/>
<serviceDebug
includeExceptionDetailInFaults=“false“/>
</behavior>
</serviceBehaviors>
<endpointBehaviors>
<behavior
name=“REST“>
<webHttp/>
</behavior>
</endpointBehaviors>
</behaviors>
<services>
<service
behaviorConfiguration=“SearchBehavior“
name=“Search“>
<endpoint
address=“”
binding=“webHttpBinding“
contract=“ISearch“
behaviorConfiguration=“REST“>
<identity>
<dns
value=“localhost“/>
</identity>
</endpoint>
<endpoint
address=“mex“
binding=“mexHttpBinding“
contract=“IMetadataExchange“/>
</service>
</services>
</system.serviceModel>
<system.web>
<compilation
debug=“true“/></system.web></configuration>
Step 5
Run the application
Below URL are used to call the service in browser.
http://localhost:61131/MyRestService/Search.svc/Search?Name=Dhananjay
http://localhost:61131/MyRestService/Search.svc/GetGreetingAsFunction?Name=Dhananjay
Conclusion
In this article, I explained basic of REST service. Thanks for reading.
Dhananjay Kumar 
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