OIC - difference between SOAP and REST

Difference between SOAP and REST:

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

Protocol: A strict protocol for message exchange with built-in standards for security, transactions, and error handling.

Message Format: Always uses XML, requiring a structured SOAP envelope with headers and body.

Transport: Can use multiple transport protocols like HTTP, SMTP, TCP, etc.

Features:

Supports WS-Security for secure message exchange.

Better suited for stateful operations (e.g., sessions).

Heavy and slower due to XML parsing and strict standards.

Use Cases: Enterprise applications requiring high security, reliability, and formal communication (e.g., financial transactions, payment gateways).

REST (Representational State Transfer)

Architecture: A lightweight architectural style, not a protocol, that uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).

Data Formats: Supports multiple formats like JSON, XML, HTML, or plain text (JSON being the most common).

Transport: Relies exclusively on HTTP.

Features:

Stateless, meaning each request is independent of others.

Faster and more efficient due to lightweight communication and flexible data formats.

Easy to implement and widely used for modern APIs.

Use Cases: Web and mobile applications, microservices, and scenarios where performance and scalability are priorities.

In summary:

SOAP is rigid, heavy, and ideal for complex, secure operations.

REST is simple, flexible, and optimized for web-based services.