Choosing Between WCF and ASMX
The following table lists some issues to consider when you must choose between WCF and ASMX to implement a service.
Characteristic |
ASMX |
WCF |
|---|---|---|
Development effort |
ASMX requires a lower level of development skills than WCF. |
WCF can require a higher level of development skills because it has a larger, more flexible programming model. |
Flexibility |
ASMX is accessible only through the basic HTTP transport. |
With configuration, WCF service implementations can support many transport options. |
Security |
The ASMX security layer has fewer security features than the WCF security layer. |
The WCF security layer has more security features than the ASMX security layer. |
Performance |
ASMX has lower performance characteristics than WCF (see the note that follows this table). |
WCF has higher performance characteristics than ASMX (see the note that follows this table). |
Can be hosted in SharePoint |
Yes. |
No. |
Note
For more information about the performance characteristics of ASMX and WCF services, see A Performance Comparison of Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) with Existing Distributed Communication Technologies on MSDN.