REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer — Spring Technical Interview Questions & Answers

Model answer comparing the two API styles.

REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer

  • Model answer: REST is resource-based over HTTP and often uses JSON; SOAP is a stricter XML protocol with its own standards.
  • REST is lighter for most modern web/mobile APIs.
  • SOAP can still appear in older enterprise integrations.
  • Compare style, payload, and typical use — stay practical.

Technical Interview Tip: One practical difference and one use-case each.

Code Examples for REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer

REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer — working example

// Topic: REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.GetMapping;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RestController;

@RestController
class TopicController {
  @GetMapping("/api/topic")
  String topic() {
    return "Spring Boot: REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer";
  }
}

REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer: GET /api/topic returns this title string.

How to Explain REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer to an Interviewer

What is REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer (sb)?

Used for GET /api/marks/{roll} a campus API Not just the heading

Give one small example of REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer (sb).

@RestController + service call Model answer comparing the two API styles

What mistake do beginners make with REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer (sb)?

business logic inside the controller Show the fix

Where do you use REST vs SOAP — Interview Answer (sb)?

a campus API GET /api/marks/{roll}