WebSocket vs REST

HTTP's chatty cousin meets the architectural style that made apis boringly reliable, but sometimes too rigid for modern needs. Here's our take.

WebSocket

Nice Pick

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

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 WebSocket if: You want full-duplex communication reduces latency for real-time apps and can live with requires explicit connection management and error handling.

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

The Bottom Line

WebSocket wins

HTTP's chatty cousin. Real-time without the constant handshakes.