WCF: DataMember attribute on property vs. member

Question

In wcf, what is the difference between applying the DataMember attribute on a property

private int m_SomeValue;

[DataMember]  
public int SomeVal         


        

Answer 1

In theory, and as long as you keep m_SomeValue always equal to SomeValue (like a simple getter/setter), nothing. Other than the name of the variable exposed by the WCF. (Obviously, if you tag the m_ variable, then your proxy class will also have the same m_ name. The proxy class will generate a public property whether you use a public/protected/internal/private field or property.

However, if you have any special logic in your accessors that may modify the value returned (ToUpper()ing a string, for example), then you would return a different value.