REST vs SOAP

The architectural style that made APIs boringly reliable, but sometimes too rigid for modern needs meets the protocol that made xml feel like a heavyweight champion, but now it's mostly just heavy. Here's our take.

REST

Nice Pick

The architectural style that made APIs boringly reliable, but sometimes too rigid for modern needs.

Pros

• Stateless design simplifies scaling and caching
• Uses standard HTTP methods for predictable operations
• Widely supported across languages and platforms

Cons

• Can lead to over-fetching or under-fetching data
• Lacks built-in real-time capabilities

SOAP

The protocol that made XML feel like a heavyweight champion, but now it's mostly just heavy.

Pros

• Standardized and platform-agnostic, great for enterprise integration
• Built-in error handling and security features
• Works well with WSDL for clear service contracts

Cons

• Verbose XML bloat makes it slow and bandwidth-hungry
• Complex setup compared to modern REST or GraphQL alternatives

The Verdict

Use REST if: You want stateless design simplifies scaling and caching and can live with can lead to over-fetching or under-fetching data.

Use SOAP if: You prioritize standardized and platform-agnostic, great for enterprise integration over what REST offers.

The Bottom Line

REST wins

The architectural style that made APIs boringly reliable, but sometimes too rigid for modern needs.