Open Data Protocol (OData) enables the creation of REST-based services, which allow resources to be exposed as endpoints and identified using the Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). In general, OData is represented by an abstract data model called Entity Data Model (EDM). This Entity Data Model allows Web clients to publish and edit REST services and their resources using simple HTTP messages.

OData leverages the principles of HTTP, REST and ATOM, and combines the simplicity of REST and SOAP metadata definitions to describe service interfaces, data models, and semantics.

The descriptions in this topic are based on a sample OData service, TripPinService.