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API Styles Explained

Ten ways your app talks to a server: REST, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket, SSE, Webhooks, SOAP, MQTT, Long Polling and WebRTC, each shown as a live animated diagram, with a side-by-side comparison to help you choose.

Animated diagrams · 10 flows

Compare all 10

Sort by any column to find the right fit. Click a name to open its details.

GraphQLRequest → responseOptional (subscriptions)LowHTTPMediumRich clients, many related resources
gRPCBi-directional streamingYesVery lowHTTP/2MediumService-to-service, microservices
Long PollingRequest → delayed responseNear real-timeMediumHTTPLowPush fallback for old clients
MQTTPublish / subscribeYesLowTCPMediumIoT, telemetry, unreliable networks
RESTRequest → responseNoLowHTTP/1.1LowCRUD & public web APIs
SOAPRequest → responseNoHigherHTTP / SMTPHighEnterprise & legacy systems
SSEServer → clientYesLowHTTPLowLive feeds, notifications, token streams
WebhooksServer → your URLNear real-timeLowHTTPLowReacting to third-party events
WebRTCPeer ↔ peerYesVery lowUDP (SRTP/DTLS)HighVideo/voice calls, P2P data
WebSocketTwo-wayYesVery lowTCP (ws://)MediumChat, presence, live collaboration