Sujeeth Reddy P.’s Post

Top 6 API Architecture Styles Cheatsheet   When, How, and Where to Use Them  --- 1️⃣ SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)   ► When to Use: Enterprise applications requiring strict security, reliability, and standardization.   ► How It Works:   - Uses XML for message formatting.   - Supports advanced security, ACID compliance, and transaction management.   ► Where It Fits:   - Banking systems.   - Payment gateways.   - Regulated industries needing robust data integrity.  --- 2️⃣ RESTful (Representational State Transfer)   ► When to Use: Public-facing web services and lightweight applications needing scalability and simplicity.   ► How It Works:   - Stateless and resource-oriented design.   - Uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).   - Exchanges data in formats like JSON or XML.   ► Where It Fits:   - Social media platforms.   - E-commerce sites.   - APIs for mobile and web applications.  --- 3️⃣ GraphQL   ► When to Use: Applications requiring flexible, client-driven data retrieval.   ► How It Works:   - Allows clients to request only the specific data they need.   - Uses a single endpoint for queries and mutations.   - Reduces over-fetching and under-fetching.   ► Where It Fits:   - CMS platforms.   - Apps with diverse client needs (web/mobile).   - Services requiring optimized network usage.  --- 4️⃣ gRPC   ► When to Use: High-performance, low-latency communication for real-time systems and microservices.   ► How It Works:   - Uses Protocol Buffers (Protobuf) for efficient serialization.   - Operates over HTTP/2.   - Supports bi-directional streaming.   ► Where It Fits:   - Microservices architectures.   - Real-time analytics systems.   - IoT and distributed systems.  --- 5️⃣ WebSockets   ► When to Use: Real-time, persistent communication between client and server.   ► How It Works:   - Establishes a full-duplex, persistent connection.   - Allows instant data updates.   ► Where It Fits:   - Chat applications.   - Online gaming platforms.   - Live dashboards and collaborative tools.  --- 6️⃣ Webhooks   ► When to Use: Event-driven systems needing real-time notifications and automation.   ► How It Works:   - Pushes data when specific events occur.   - Requires the receiver to handle HTTP requests.   ► Where It Fits:   - Payment notifications.   - Third-party integrations (e.g., GitHub, Slack).   - Automation workflows.  Summary: – SOAP: Enterprise-grade, secure, and regulated systems. – REST: Simple, scalable, and widely adopted for web and mobile apps. – GraphQL: Flexible, client-specific data retrieval for dynamic apps. – gRPC: High-performance, real-time communication in microservices. – WebSockets: Persistent, real-time updates for interactive apps. – Webhooks: Event-driven notifications for seamless integration.