To connect a service, developers don’t need to write code from scratch, they can integrate a ready service – usually, after choosing a suitable approach, like REST or SOAP. We will review them in our article, read till the end to find a full list of use cases for REST and SOAP shared by the EZtek team. On our channel, we share thoughts on recent developments in the tech industry, follow us not to miss new videos.
SOAP
- Simple
- Object
- Access
- Protocol
It provides access to web services.
REST
- Representational
- State
- Transfer
It refers to architectural rules used when building APIs.
Fundamental Differences between REST vs SOAP
1. Protocol vs Architectural Style
- SOAP is a protocol that has a specific structure. Its requests have a unified look and organization. SOAP uses XML information set for its message format and relies on application layer protocols, most often HyperText Transfer Protocol – HTTP.
- REST is not a protocol. It’s an approach to architecture where the client side and server side are isolated.
2. Language
The basic components of SOAP are the envelope, the body, the text of the request itself, sender information and request details.
SOAP also has a type system, REST APIs are defined with an interface description language. So, during development software engineers use XML, HTML, JSON and other ways of expression.
3. Bandwidth Usage
SOAP sends heavier requests and so, requires more bandwidth but REST requests are lighter. This is why we use REST for software that works in low bandwidth conditions.
It influences SOAP and REST use cases. So, read further, we will share the details.
4. Internal Logic
SOAP shows the application logic for each protocol and data transfer but REST focuses mainly on naming resources that will be accessed during a transfer. Our experts advise using SOAP for operations that need to be highly controlled and described in detail but REST requires you to specify less information.
Unless you need this fail-proof stability we advise using REST for most features.
5. Language Compatibility and Implementation
With SOAP, developers constantly need to write a lot of specifications to set up the mandatory XML structure. REST doesn’t require you to change the code so much. You can use the approach that suits your existing code base better.
Advantages
SOAP
- Standardization
- Security
- Extensibility
REST
- High performance
- Scalability
- Flexibility and
- Browser friendliness
Disadvantages
SOAP
- More complex
- Worse performance
- Less flexibility
REST
- Unsuitable for distributed environments
- Less secure
Situations where these tools perform best
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SOAP use cases
- Asynchronous processing
- Strict agreements
- Stateful operations
Therefore, SOAP is a go-to option for financial transactions because it’s more controlled.
REST use cases
- Limited connection
- Stateless operations
- Caching and
- Coding simplicity
So, REST is used in situations where running multiple operations is more important than having a single big one.
To sum up, we would also like to add that SOAP and REST aren’t competing with each other. Both approaches have different goals and architectural methods for achieving them.
This article was prepared by the EZtek team. We provide software development, UI/UX design and testing services to top brands worldwide. We share the experience and the latest insights in software development, so make sure to follow us not to miss a single article.
