What is the difference between REST and SOAP?

REST and SOAP are two different approaches to organizing interaction between systems via web services.

REST (Representational State Transfer):

• Uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
• Works with resources represented in JSON, XML, or other formats.
• Lightweight, easier to implement and scale.
• Does not require complex protocols, suitable for public APIs.

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol):

• Uses XML messages with a strictly defined structure.
• Supports advanced features: security (WS-Security), transactions, reliable delivery.
• More complex and heavyweight protocol.
• Often used in enterprise systems with high security and reliability requirements.

In summary: REST is simpler and more flexible, suitable for most modern web applications, while SOAP is for complex integrations with additional requirements.