REST API vs WebSocket

The old reliable of web APIs meets http's chatty cousin. Here's our take.

REST API

Nice Pick

The old reliable of web APIs. Simple enough to get you started, but good luck with those nested resources.

Pros

• Easy to understand with standard HTTP methods
• Stateless design simplifies scaling
• Wide tooling and community support

Cons

• Over-fetching and under-fetching data is common
• Versioning can get messy fast

WebSocket

HTTP's chatty cousin. Real-time without the constant handshakes.

Pros

• Full-duplex communication reduces latency for real-time apps
• Persistent connection eliminates HTTP overhead per message
• Widely supported in modern browsers and servers

Cons

• Requires explicit connection management and error handling
• Can be tricky with firewalls and proxies that block non-HTTP traffic

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. REST API is a apis while WebSocket is a ai coding tools. We picked REST API based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

REST API wins

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