Summary

In this chapter, you learned that the .NET Framework contains a second, lower-level handler API with which you can create Web services. Because it works at a lower level, it offers more control over how the service works with requests and responses, but you are not given any help behind the scenes as you are with the higher-level Web method API. On the other hand, the Web method API has several weaknesses that can be remedied if you use handlers instead.

You also learned how ASP.NET models its request pipeline, the endpoint of which is the handler. In Chapter 10, you’ll see how you can use HTTP modules to extend the Web method API, and in Chapter 13 you’ll learn how the Web Services Enhancements 1.0 kit sits over the pipeline to implement new features for Web services developers— such as routing and better security.