WebSockets vs REST API

The real-time whisperer meets the old reliable of web apis. Here's our take.

WebSockets

Nice Pick

The real-time whisperer. Because polling is so 2005, but debugging this can feel like time travel.

Pros

• Enables low-latency, bidirectional communication without HTTP overhead
• Widely supported across modern browsers and servers
• Persistent connections reduce server load for real-time apps

Cons

• Debugging can be a nightmare with opaque connection drops
• Scaling requires careful state management and can get messy fast

REST API

The old reliable of web APIs. Simple enough to get you started, but good luck with those nested resources.

Pros

• Easy to understand with standard HTTP methods
• Stateless design simplifies scaling
• Wide tooling and community support

Cons

• Over-fetching and under-fetching data is common
• Versioning can get messy fast

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. WebSockets is a real-time communication while REST API is a apis. We picked WebSockets based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

WebSockets wins

Based on overall popularity. WebSockets is more widely used, but REST API excels in its own space.