If your application uses a different protocol than HTTP, the WebConfigurationManager.GetSection(string, string) overload that takes both a section name and a path in its parameter list is the one to use. You must specify the configuration file path because the system cannot make any assumptions about the configuration hierarchy level. If you use the WebConfigurationManager.GetSection(string) overload that takes only a section name, the system will always attempt to return the configuration settings at the application level. Note, though, that if its specified path is outside of the current application, the overload that takes a path will also return the application-level configuration settings for the currently running application.

The WebConfigurationManager.GetSection(string, string) method is a run-time method operating on the section of a configuration file at the hierarchy level in which the application runs. For a non-run-time operation, use System.Configuration.Configuration.GetSection(string) instead. This method operates on the specified section of a configuration file that you obtain using one of the open configuration file methods.