What is SOAP?
SOAP, or Simple Objects Access Protocol is basically a web communication protocol that was created for Microsoft in 1998. These days, the main uses for it are HTTP/HTTPS data transmission and web service exposure. However, it’s not just them. Unlike the REST pattern, SOAP only supports the XML data format and adheres strictly to predetermined standards, including a protocol for sending procedure requests and responses, a messaging structure, and a set of encoding guidelines. SOAP can handle communications and provide responses that are platform- and language-independent since it has built-in support for building web-based services.
Although REST is the preferred protocol for most online data interchange, SOAP is here to stay because to its higher level of security, high degree of standardisation, and occasional automation capabilities.
REST API vs GraphQL vs SOAP
In web development, picking the right API technology is like picking the perfect tool for a job. Each one—REST API, GraphQL, and SOAP—has its own way of working. It’s really important for developers and businesses to know how these APIs are different because that helps them build apps that work really well and can do a lot of things.
Imagine you’re building a house: REST API, GraphQL, and SOAP are like different sets of building plans, each with its own style and approach. They’re the blueprints for how web applications communicate, defining the rules for sending and receiving information. Just like you’d choose the best blueprint for your dream house, developers choose the best API technology for their projects based on its strengths and capabilities.