CSOM (Client Side Object Model) - What's new with SharePoint 2013
- by KunaalKapoor
SharePoint CSOMThe Client-Side Object Model or CSOM came out with SharePoint 2010. CSOM is accessible through client.svc but all client.svc calls must go through supported WFC entry points (supported entry points are .NET, Silverlight and JavaScript). So a developer would need to use client side proxy objects exposed by either a .NET assembly or a JavaScript library. Changes with SharePoint 2013REST Capabilities - Direct access to client.svcNew APIs - App ModelREST CapabilitiesOne of the most important changes to the CSOM with SharePoint 2013 is that the web service entry point of client.svc has been extended to allow direct access via REST-Based web service calls. This is a really critical change since its going to make the SharePoint platform accessible to any other platform, opening the horizons of integration and collaboration with other REST based platforms and devices. OData (a really popular standard data access API for HTTP-based clients) is supported similar to 2010 but will be a more important aspect of SharePoint 2013 development.New API'sCSOM for SharePoint 2013 has been buffed up with several new APIs for not only SharePoint server functionality but also an API for Windows Phone applications. For a SharePoint 2010 farm most of the new APIs mentioned below are available only via server side APIs:SearchTaxonomyPublishingWorkflowUser ProfilesE-DiscoveryAnalyticsBusiness DataIRMFeedsSharePoint 2013 remote APIs being accessible through both CSOM and REST is very important to the new app model where developers can no longer run code in a SharePoint environment nor can they access the server-side APIs. So CSOM plays the savior here.Also, you can now substitute the alias '_api' in order to reference '_vti_bin/client.svc'.