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Windows Communication Foundation Overview

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[[Windows Communication Foundation]] (WCF) is a system for creating connections between applications using services and endpoints. WCF is an infrastructure technology for messages. Just as roads support cars, and as electricity travels over wires and cables, and as pipes convey water, WCF exists to transfer messages between any two endpoints. And it does so securely as well. That is, you can create messages that are encrypted to keep your information safe.

As such a basic function, WCF is integrated into many other technologies. For example, Windows Workflow provides a great model for creating certain kinds of applications, but it needs a host for workflow activities—which is what WCF provides. Another example is the WCF Data Services. OData is an open protocol that enables data services to provide data in one common format; but WCF is still the underlying transport.

For more technical information about WCF, see WCF Architecture Overview.

For Beginners

For videos and more, see the beginner’s page on the Microsoft Developer Center.

For a hands-on lab that you can work through, see the WCF Tutorial.

Forums

If you have a question, try the WCF Forum.

Other forums that touch on WCF topics include the Workflow forum, AppFabricService and Workflow Management forum, and the ASMX Web Services and XML Serialization forum.

WCF Wiki Pages

Of course, you are now on the WCF wiki. The wiki allows you to add your personal knowledge and expertise to a public forum. If an existing topic needs work, and you have the expertise, please fix it. Or if you have knowledge that would be useful to others, create a new page to share it.

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