REST API vs SOAP

Developers should learn REST API design to build scalable, maintainable, and interoperable web services that integrate with diverse clients, such as web apps, mobile apps, and IoT devices 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

Nice Pick

Developers should learn REST API design to build scalable, maintainable, and interoperable web services that integrate with diverse clients, such as web apps, mobile apps, and IoT devices

Pros

• It is essential for creating microservices architectures, enabling third-party integrations, and supporting data exchange in cloud-based applications, as it simplifies client-server communication using widely adopted HTTP standards
• Related to: http-protocols, 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 is a concept while SOAP is a protocol. 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 SOAP excels in its own space.