Windows HTTP Server API provides mechanisms for URL Registration and Reservation so that request queues can be setup by processes: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa364483(v=VS.85).aspx.
And the URL matching is done by longest matching URL Prefix. With support for strong wild cards '+' and weak wild cards '*'.
I get that IIS does some mangling/translation of binding in web.config to HTTP Server API (http.sys) for URL registration. (URL Group and HTTP Request Queue).
Could someone throw some light here? Thanks!