What is REST vs SOAP? Data formats, differences?

REST (Representational State Transfer) and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) are two different approaches to organizing web services.

• REST:

  • Architectural style using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
  • Data formats are usually JSON or XML, but JSON is the most common.
  • Lightweight, simpler to implement and use.
  • Does not require complex protocols, operates over HTTP.

• SOAP:

  • A message exchange protocol based on XML.
  • Uses its own message format with a strict structure.
  • Supports advanced features: security (WS-Security), transactions, reliable delivery.
  • Requires SOAP-compatible libraries and more complex configuration.

Differences:

Characteristic	REST	SOAP
Data format	JSON, XML, others	XML only
Protocol	HTTP	HTTP, SMTP, etc.
Security standards	Uses HTTPS, OAuth, etc.	WS-Security
Complexity	Simple to implement	More complex, requires tools
Operation support	CRUD via HTTP methods	Operations via SOAP messages

REST is suitable for simple, scalable services with low latency, while SOAP is for enterprise systems with high security and reliability requirements.