REST SOAP

SOAP

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) standard an XML language defining a message architecture and message formats, is used by Web services it contain a description of the operations. WSDL is an XML-based language for describing Web services and how to access them. will run on SMTP,HTTP,FTP etc. Requires middleware support, well defined mechanisam to define services like WSDL+XSD, WS-Policy SOAP will return XML based data

REST Representational State Transfer (RESTful) web services. they are second generation Web Services. RESTful web services, communicate via HTTP than SOAP-based services and do not require XML messages or WSDL service-API definitions. for REST no middleware is required only HTTP support is needed.WADL Standard, REST can return XML, plain text, JSON, HTML etc

In general, When you're publishing an API to the outside world that is either complex or likely to change, SOAP will be more useful. Other than that, REST is usually the better option.

Rest VS SOAP

SOAP:

► SOAP is simple object access protocol that run on TCP/UDP/SMTP.
► SOAP read and write request response messages in XML format.
► SOAP uses interface in order to define the services.
► SOAP is more secure as it has its own security and well defined standards.
► SOAP follows RPC and Document style to define web services.
► SOAP uses SOAP-UI as client tools for testing.

REST

► REST is representational state transfer that uses underlying HTTP protocols.
► REST is stateless.
► REST is an architectural style that is used to describe and define web services.
► REST can read and write request response messages in JSON/XML/Plain HTML.
► REST uses URI for each resource that is used in web service.A resource can be image text method etc.
► REST uses set of VERBs like HTTP's GET, POST, PUT, DELETE.
► REST is easy to develop and easy to manage as compared to SOAP UI.
► REST has light weight client tools or plugins that can easily be integrated inside browser.
► REST services are cache able.