title: Compare and contrast REST and SOAP web services?
body: <p>I currently figure out the similar is both using internet protocol (HTTP) to exchange data between consumer and provider. </p>
  
  <p>The difference is:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>SOAP is a XML-based message protocol, while REST is an architectural style</li>
  <li>SOAP uses WSDL for communication between consumer and provider, whereas REST just uses XML or JSON to send and receive data</li>
  <li>SOAP invokes services by calling RPC method, REST just simply calls services via URL path</li>
  <li>SOAP doesn't return human readable result, whilst REST result is readable with is just plain XML or JSON</li>
  <li>SOAP is not just over HTTP, it also uses other protocols such as SMTP, FTP, etc, REST is over only HTTP</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>That's everything I know as the differences between them. Could anyone correct me and add more.</p>