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Difference Between REST API and SOAP API
As we know that each machine understand and deals in its different language or input so web-services are something which are required for inter communication between machines and to exchange data between them. In order to implement some set of restrictions over their communication some set of rules and regulations are defined which are known as web-services which basically defines the format and type of data that need to be exchanged and specifically a contract which both machines should be aware of before taking part in communication.
This communication system can be categorized into two types, namely Simple Object Access Protocol or SOAP, and Representational State Transfer or REST.
Following are the important differences between REST API and SOAP API.
| Sr. No. | Key | REST API | SOAP API |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Implementation | Rest API is implemented as it has no official standard at all because it is an architectural style. | On other hand SOAP API has an official standard because it is a protocol. |
| 2 | Internal communication | REST APIs uses multiple standards like HTTP, JSON, URL, and XML for data communication and transfer. | SOAP APIs is largely based and uses only HTTP and XML. |
| 3 | Resource requirement | As REST API deploys and uses multiple standards as stated above, so it takes fewer resources and bandwidth as compared to SOAP API. | On other hand Soap API requires more resource and bandwidth as it needs to convert the data in XML which increases its payload and results in the large sized file. |
| 4 | Description | REST API uses Web Application Description Language for describing the functionalities being offered by web services. | On other hand SOAP API used Web Services Description language for the same. |
| 5 | Security | REST has SSL and HTTPS for security. | On other hand SOAP has SSL( Secure Socket Layer) and WS-security due to which in the cases like Bank Account Password, Card Number, etc. SOAP is preferred over REST. |
| 6 | Abbreviation | REST stands for Representational State Transfer. | On other hand SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol |
| 7 | Interchange | REST can make use of SOAP as the underlying protocol for web services, because in the end it is just an architectural pattern. | On other hand SOAP cannot make use of REST since SOAP is a protocol and REST is an architectural pattern. |
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