SOAP vs WebSocket

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

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

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 WebSocket if: You prioritize full-duplex communication reduces latency for real-time apps 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.