Bindings specify how a Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) service endpoint communicates with other endpoints. At its most basic, a binding must specify the transport (for example, HTTP or TCP) to use. You can also set other characteristics, such as security and transaction support, through bindings.
WCF provides nine built-in bindings:
- BasicHttpBinding: Basic web service communication. Exposes WCF services as legacy ASMX web services. Used for interoperability. No security by default.
- WSHttpBinding: Web services with WS-* support. Supports transactions and reliable messaging.
- WSDualHttpBinding: Web services with duplex contract and transaction support.
- WSFederationHttpBinding: Web services with federated security. Supports transactions.
- MsmqIntegrationBinding: Communication directly with MSMQ applications. Supports transactions.
- NetMsmqBinding: Communication between WCF applications by using queuing. Supports transactions.
- NetNamedPipeBinding: Communication between WCF applications on same computer. Supports duplex contracts and transactions.
- NetPeerTcpBinding: Communication between computers across peer-to-peer services. Supports duplex contracts.
- NetTcpBinding: Communication between WCF applications across computers. Supports duplex contracts and transactions.