How to Host Web API in IIS Server

Hello Devs, in this article we will learn how to host Web API in IIS Server. It can be a bit daunting at first but don’t worry, we will explain everything step by step. By the end of this article, you will have a fully functional Web API hosted on IIS. Let’s get started!

Prerequisites

Before we start, let’s make sure that we have all the necessary tools installed:

Tool	Version
Visual Studio	2019 or later
IIS Server	10 or later
.NET Framework	4.5 or later

If you don’t have any of these tools installed, you can download them from their official websites.

Creating a Web API Project

The first step is to create a Web API project. Follow these steps:

1. Open Visual Studio.
2. Select “Create a new project”.
3. Select “ASP.NET Web Application”.
4. Select “Web API”.
5. Choose a name and location for your project.
6. Click “Create”.

Now you have a Web API project ready to go.

Creating a Virtual Directory in IIS

The next step is to create a virtual directory in IIS. Follow these steps:

1. Open IIS Manager.
2. Select your server name.
3. Click “Sites”.
4. Right-click on “Default Web Site”.
5. Select “Add Virtual Directory”.
6. Choose a name for your directory.
7. Choose the physical path to your Web API project.
8. Click “OK”.

Now you have a virtual directory ready to host your Web API.

Configuring the Web API Project

The next step is to configure the Web API project to work with IIS. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Web API project in Visual Studio.
2. Right-click on the project name.
3. Select “Properties”.
4. Select the “Web” tab.
5. Select “Local IIS” as the “Development Server”.
6. Enter the URL of your virtual directory in the “Project URL” field.
7. Click “Create Virtual Directory”.
8. Click “Apply” and then “OK”.

Now your Web API project is configured to work with IIS.

Publishing the Web API Project

The final step is to publish the Web API project to the virtual directory in IIS. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click on your project name.
2. Select “Publish”.
3. Select “IIS, FTP, etc.” as the publish target.
4. Enter the URL of your virtual directory in the “Site/URL” field.
5. Enter the username and password for your IIS server.
6. Click “Publish”.

Now your Web API project is published to the virtual directory in IIS and ready to use.

FAQ

What is a Web API?

A Web API is an application programming interface (API) that is accessed through the web. It allows programs to communicate with each other over the internet.

What is IIS Server?

IIS (Internet Information Services) is a web server created by Microsoft for use with Windows operating systems. It allows websites and web applications to be hosted on a server.

What is a virtual directory?

A virtual directory is a directory name that is mapped to a physical directory on a web server. It allows the contents of the physical directory to be accessed through the web.

What is publishing?

Publishing is the process of transferring files from a development environment to a production environment.

Can I host a Web API on other web servers?

Yes, you can host a Web API on other web servers such as Apache or Nginx.