What are Message and Channels in WCF?

Message:

 

WCF Message is the unit of data exchange between client and service. It consists of several parts, including a body and headers.

Broadly we can categories channels as

1.    Transport Channels

2. Protocol Channels

 

WCF Runtime

 

WCF runtime is the set of object responsible for sending and receiving message.

 For example formatting the message, applying security and transmitting and receiving message using various protocol.

 

Channels:

Channels are the core abstraction for sending message to and receiving message from an Endpoint. Broadly we can categories channels as

 

Transport Channels

-      Handles sending and receiving message from network. Protocols like HTTP, TCP name pipes and MSMQ.

Protocol Channels

-      Implements SOAP based protocol by processing and possibly modifying message. e.g. WS-Security and WS-Reliability.