Web APIs vs SOAP

Developers should learn Web APIs to build modern, interconnected applications that leverage external services, share data across platforms, and create scalable architectures 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.

Web APIs

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Web APIs to build modern, interconnected applications that leverage external services, share data across platforms, and create scalable architectures

Pros

• They are essential for implementing features like third-party integrations (e
• Related to: rest-api, graphql

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. Web APIs is a concept while SOAP is a protocol. We picked Web APIs based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Web APIs wins

Based on overall popularity. Web APIs is more widely used, but SOAP excels in its own space.