REST API Endpoints vs SOAP

Developers should learn REST API endpoints when building or consuming web services, as they provide a standardized way to expose and interact with data over the internet, commonly used in web and mobile applications, microservices, and integrations meets developers should learn soap when working with enterprise-level systems, legacy applications, or scenarios requiring strict security, reliability, and transactional support, such as in financial services or healthcare. Here's our take.

REST API Endpoints

Nice Pick

Developers should learn REST API endpoints when building or consuming web services, as they provide a standardized way to expose and interact with data over the internet, commonly used in web and mobile applications, microservices, and integrations

Pros

• For example, an e-commerce app might use endpoints like '/products' to list items and '/orders' to place purchases, facilitating clear and predictable interactions
• Related to: http-methods, json

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

SOAP

Developers should learn SOAP when working with enterprise-level systems, legacy applications, or scenarios requiring strict security, reliability, and transactional support, such as in financial services or healthcare

Pros

• It is particularly useful for integrating heterogeneous systems where standardized, platform-independent communication is critical, and when using WS-* standards for features like encryption and message routing
• Related to: xml, wsdl

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. REST API Endpoints is a concept while SOAP is a protocol. We picked REST API Endpoints based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

REST API Endpoints wins

Based on overall popularity. REST API Endpoints is more widely used, but SOAP excels in its own space.