Explore the EWS Managed API 2.0

Use the EWS Managed API 2.0 to create client applications that work with Exchange. The EWS Managed API wraps EWS with a hand-crafted object model that is easier to use than most autogenerated proxies.

Last modified: February 13, 2014

Applies to: EWS Managed API | Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) | Exchange Server 2010

Note: This content applies to the EWS Managed API 2.0 and earlier versions. For the latest information about the EWS Managed API, see Web services in Exchange.

In this article
What do you need in order to start using the EWS Managed API?
What can you do with the EWS Managed API?
Beyond the basics: Learn more about the EWS Managed API
Additional resources

The EWS Managed API provides a simple and full-featured interface for developing and extending client applications that use EWS. You can use the EWS Managed API to access EWS in Office 365, Exchange Online, and versions of Exchange starting with Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1).

Note

The EWS Managed API is now available as an open source project on GitHub. You can use the open source library to:

  • Contribute bug fixes and enhancements to the API.

  • Get fixes and enhancements before they are available in an official release.

  • Access the most comprehensive and up-to-date implementation of the API, to use as a reference or to create new libraries on new platforms.

We welcome your contributions via GitHub.

The EWS Managed API provides developer-friendly abstractions of XML messages, XML serialization, and the creation of the HTTPS requests and responses that are exchanged between the client and server. Because the EWS Managed API is easier to use, if you’re a .NET Framework developer, we encourage you to use it over autogenerated proxies to develop EWS clients.

Table 1.  Resources to learn more about the EWS Managed API

If you want to…

See

Find code samples

Exchange 101 code samples

Find the latest information about the EWS Managed API

Web services in Exchange

Learn about the differences between the EWS Managed API and EWS

Differences between the EWS Managed API 2.0 and EWS

Find conceptual information about the EWS Managed API

EWS Managed API 2.0 concepts

Find reference documentation for the EWS Managed API

EWS Managed API reference

Develop a client application by using the EWS Managed API

Working with the EWS Managed API 2.0

What do you need in order to start using the EWS Managed API?

To use the EWS Managed API, you need to have the following:

  • A version of the EWS Managed API. The EWS Managed API works with all versions of Exchange starting with Exchange 2007 SP1.

  • A mailbox on an Exchange server that is running a version of Exchange starting with Exchange 2007 SP1, or Office 365 or Exchange Online. You must have the user name and credentials of the account. By default, direct EWS access is enabled for all Exchange Online plans except for the Kiosk plan.

  • A version of the .NET Framework starting with the .NET Framework 3.5.

  • Familiarity with web services and managed programming.

The terms specified in the License information topic apply to your use of this content. Please review the terms carefully.

What can you do with the EWS Managed API?

The EWS Managed API enables your client application to access Exchange server resources.

Table 3.  Basic tasks for working with the EWS Managed API

Task

Related topic

Use the Autodiscover service to return the EWS endpoint for an email account, and get user and domain settings for the account.

Working with the Autodiscover service by using the EWS Managed API 2.0

Manage the folders that contain your email messages, appointments, and tasks.

Working with folders by using the EWS Managed API 2.0

Search for folders, email messages, appointments, and tasks.

Working with search by using the EWS Managed API 2.0

Create, send, forward, and reply to email messages.

Working with email messages by using the EWS Managed API 2.0

Manage calendar appointments and meetings.

Working with calendar items by using the EWS Managed API 2.0

Beyond the basics: Learn more about the EWS Managed API

Besides working with the basics of email messages, appointments, and tasks, you can use the EWS Managed API to manage delegates, to synchronize a local data store with the Exchange server, to manage distribution lists, and more.

Table 4.  Advanced EWS Managed API tasks

Task

Topic

Synchronize a local data store with an Exchange server.

Working with synchronization by using the EWS Managed API 2.0

Expand a distribution list into the individual email addresses in the list.

Working with distribution lists by using the EWS Managed API 2.0

Find conversations and apply conversation actions.

Working with conversations by using the EWS Managed API 2.0