ASP.NET by Example

Advanced Topics

Yes, creating Web Services really is this simple. However, writing a “good” Web Service usually isn't. So far we've glossed over several important issues you're going to face when you try to implement your own Web Services.

First, there's the issue of complex types. How do we send custom classes of our own devising to clients that may reside on a different platform and be written in a wholly different language? Second, we all know the Internet is an unruly place, so what happens when delays interrupt our service in mid-transaction? Do the service and client application just stall until the connection is restored, or is there a better way to handle the situation? The answers to these questions are not overly complex, but they will ...