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Metadata Formats

Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) supports the metadata formats in the following table.

Metadata Specifications and Usage

Protocol Specification and usage

WSDL 1.1

Web Services Description Language (WSDL) 1.1

WCF uses Web Services Description Language (WSDL) to describe services.

XML Schema

XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes Second Edition and XML Schema Part 1: Structures Second Edition

WCF uses the XML Schema to describe data types used in messages.

WS Policy

Web Services Policy 1.2 - Framework (WS-Policy)

Web Services Policy 1.5 - Framework

WCF uses the WS-Policy 1.2 or 1.5 specifications with domain-specific assertions to describe service requirements and capabilities.

WS Policy Attachments

Web Services Policy 1.2 - Attachment (WS-PolicyAttachment)

WCF implements WS-Policy Attachments to attach policy expressions at various scopes in WSDL.

WS Metadata Exchange

Web Services Metadata Exchange (WS-MetadataExchange) version 1.1

WCF implements WS-MetadataExchange to retrieve XML Schema, WSDL, and WS-Policy.

WS Addressing Binding for WSDL

Web Services Addressing 1.0 - WSDL Binding

WCF implements WS-Addressing Binding for WSDL to attach addressing information in WSDL.

See Also

Concepts

Web Services Protocols Supported by System-Provided Interoperability Bindings
WSDL and Policy