ASP.NET Web API is a key part of ASP.NET MVC 4 and the platform of choice for building RESTful services that can be accessed by a wide range of devices. Everything from JavaScript libraries to RIA plugins, RFID readers to smart phones can consume your services using platform-agnostic HTTP.

With such wide accessibility, securing your code effectively needs to be a top priority. You will quickly find that the WCF security protocols you're familiar with from .NET are less suitable than they once were in this new environment, proving themselves cumbersome and limited in terms of the standards...

Microsoft's ASP.NET Web API simplifies data delivery through HTTP, making it a great platform for building RESTful applications. With ASP.NET Web API, you'll learn the ins and outs of the technology so that you can start building services in no time. The book starts with a high-level overview of Web API, examining the hosting layer, message handler pipeline, and controller, and delves further into each layer in succinct detail. By the end of the book, you'll understand how ASP.NET Web API handles requests, how to set up a route table, and how to extend the controller at the center of the API...