Question

Could someone please explain the difference? From what I understand, I could expose my data directly using WCF data services or expose it using OData. OData is a more universal protocol?

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/data/aa937697.aspx

Answer 1

OData is the protocol specification / standard – how to query, what operators to use on the URL etc.

WCF Data Services is the .NET/WCF implementation of that protocol / standard.

So you cannot expose your data using OData – it’s not a product or a code base you can use.

However, you can do so using WCF Data Services which is based on the OData protocol/standard.