We do not use HTTP just for preparing web pages. We all know that HTTP is a very strong platform for constructing APIs that reveal data and services. HTTP is easy to use, agile, and ever-present. Using API we shall easily communicate with variety of other languages with less code.

Most of the platforms in existence today contain a HTTP library. This enables the HTTP services to extend to a wide variety of clients, consisting of traditional desktop applications, mobile devices, and browsers. In this article we are gonna see how to build a simple REST service using ASP.NET Web API and test the methods using PostMan.

ASP.NET MVC is a framework that is used to create web applications in MVC pattern. ASP.NET Web API is relatively new framework that makes it easy to build HTTP services that can reach a broad range of clients, including browsers and mobile devices. ASP.NET Web API is an ideal platform for building RESTful applications on the .NET Framework.

In this cartoon Mark and Ted discusses about the differences between ASP.NET MVC and ASP.NET Web API. Mark clears Ted when to use the Web API over MVC.

A service that is created based upon the architecture of REST is called as REST service. Although REST looks more inclined to web and HTTP its principles can be applied to other distributed communication systems also. One of the real implementation of REST architecture is the World Wide Web (WWW). REST based services are easy to create and can be consumed from a wide variety of devices.

There are many APIs available in different languages to create and consume REST services. The ASP.NET MVC beta 4 comes with a new API called ASP.NET Web API to create and consume REST services. While creating REST services it is important to follow the rules and standards of the protocol (HTTP). Without knowing the principles of REST it is easy to create a service that looks RESTful but they are ultimately an RPC style service or a SOAP-REST hybrid service. In this article we are going to see how to create a simple REST service using the ASP.NET Web API.