SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and REST (Representational State Transfer) are two different web services architectures used for exchanging data between systems.
Soap vs Rest API Differences:
Here are some differences between SOAP and REST.
Communication Style:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|
| SOAP uses a messaging protocol that follows a strict set of rules | REST is more flexible and can use a variety of protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, and SMTP |
Data Format Soap vs Rest:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|
| SOAP typically uses XML (eXtensive Markup Language) as its data format | REST typically uses JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) or sometimes XML. |
Interface Definition:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|
| SOAP uses WSDL (Web Services Description Language) to define the interface between the client and the server. | REST uses HTTP methods (such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) to define the interface. |
Error Handling:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|
| SOAP has a standardized error handling model that includes error codes and fault messages. | REST typically returns HTTP error codes (such as 404 Not Found) to indicate errors. |
Caching:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|
| SOAP does not support caching. | RESTful services can take advantage of browser caching, which can improve performance. |
Statelessness:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|
| SOAP maintains a state between requests. | REST is stateless, meaning each request contains all the information necessary to complete it. |
Performance:
| SOAP | REST |
|---|
| SOAP can still be a reliable and effective web service architecture for certain applications, especially those that require strong security or transactional support. | REST is generally considered faster and more lightweight than SOAP, as it uses less bandwidth and has less overhead. |
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