What is WCF Data Contract?

Data Contracts define the data type for variables that are the same as get and set properties but the difference is that a Data Contract in WCF is used to serialize and deserialize the complex data. It defines how data types are serialized and deserialized. Using serialization, you can convert an object into a sequence of bytes that can be transmitted over a network. Using de-serialization, you reassemble an object from a sequence of bytes that you receive from a calling application.

The DataMemberAttribute attribute must then be applied to each member of the data contract type to indicate that it is a data member, that is, it should be serialized.

namespace MyTypes
{
    [DataContract]
    public class PurchaseOrder
    {
        private int poId_value;

        // Apply the DataMemberAttribute to the property.
        [DataMember]
        public int PurchaseOrderId
        {

            get { return poId_value; }
            set { poId_value = value; }
        }
    }
}