SOAP vs REST

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

SOAP

Nice Pick

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

REST

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

The Verdict

Use SOAP if: You want standardized and platform-agnostic, great for enterprise integration and can live with verbose xml bloat makes it slow and bandwidth-hungry.

Use REST if: You prioritize stateless design simplifies scaling and caching over what SOAP offers.

The Bottom Line

SOAP wins

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