What are the differences between SOAP and REST services?

Question

Accepted Answer

REST is an architectural style for distributed hypermedia systems, while SOAP is a protocol for exchanging structured information in web services.

REST is lightweight and uses standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, while SOAP uses XML for message format and relies on protocols like HTTP, SMTP, etc.
REST is stateless, meaning each request from a client to server must contain all the information needed to understand the request, while SOAP can maintain state between requests.
REST is more flexible and scalable, making it suitable for web services that need to support a variety of clients and devices, while SOAP is more rigid and better suited for enterprise-level applications.
RESTful APIs are easier to implement and consume, while SOAP APIs require more effort due to the complexity of the XML-based messages.
Examples: REST APIs like Twitter, Facebook, and Google Maps; SOAP APIs like Amazon Web Services and PayPal.

Interview Questions from Popular Companies