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HTTP APIs vs WebSockets

Developers should learn HTTP APIs because they are fundamental for building interoperable web and mobile applications, enabling integration with third-party services, cloud platforms, and internal systems meets developers should learn and use websockets when building applications that require real-time features, such as live chat, online gaming, financial trading platforms, collaborative editing tools, or live sports updates, as it reduces latency and server load compared to polling techniques like http long-polling. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

HTTP APIs

Developers should learn HTTP APIs because they are fundamental for building interoperable web and mobile applications, enabling integration with third-party services, cloud platforms, and internal systems

HTTP APIs

Nice Pick

Developers should learn HTTP APIs because they are fundamental for building interoperable web and mobile applications, enabling integration with third-party services, cloud platforms, and internal systems

Pros

  • +Use cases include creating RESTful or GraphQL APIs for web apps, developing mobile backends, implementing microservices, and automating workflows through API calls
  • +Related to: rest-api, graphql

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

WebSockets

Developers should learn and use WebSockets when building applications that require real-time features, such as live chat, online gaming, financial trading platforms, collaborative editing tools, or live sports updates, as it reduces latency and server load compared to polling techniques like HTTP long-polling

Pros

  • +It is particularly valuable in scenarios where instant data synchronization between clients and servers is critical, such as in IoT device monitoring or interactive dashboards, because it maintains an open connection for continuous data flow
  • +Related to: http, real-time-communication

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. HTTP APIs is a concept while WebSockets is a protocol. We picked HTTP APIs based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

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The Bottom Line
HTTP APIs wins

Based on overall popularity. HTTP APIs is more widely used, but WebSockets excels in its own space.

Learn about HTTP APIs →Learn about WebSockets →

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev