In which cases did you choose a particular integration method (REST, Kafka, SOAP)?

The choice of integration method depends on system requirements, data characteristics, and architecture:

• REST — suitable for synchronous interaction between services via HTTP. Good for CRUD operations, where simplicity, scalability, and broad support are important. Used when lightweight integration with web clients or external systems is needed.

• Kafka — a messaging system with high throughput and resilience. Used for asynchronous integration, event processing, data streaming, and building event-driven architecture. Chosen when reliability, scalability, and the ability to handle large volumes of data in real-time are important.

• SOAP — a protocol with a strict specification, supporting complex operations, security, and transactions. Often used in enterprise systems where formal contract, WS-* standards, and compatibility with legacy systems are important.

Example of choice:

• If you need to quickly and simply provide an API for a mobile application — REST.
• If event processing and high-load microservice integration are required — Kafka.
• If integration with a banking system with security and transactional requirements — SOAP.