Difference between OData and REST web services

Question

What is the difference between OData and REST-ful web services?

Answer 1

REST is a generic design technique used to describe how a web service can be accessed. Using REST you can make http requests to get data. If you try it in your browser it would be just like going to a website except instead of returning a web page you would get back XML. Some services will also return data in JSON format which is easier to use with Javascript.

OData is a specific technology that exposes data through REST.

If you want to sum it up real quick, think of it as:

• REST - design pattern
• OData - enabling technology