System design: Websocket and REST

August, 2020

Introduction

It is a very good topic for me to learn quickly. I do think that the comparison between websocket and REST is the start for me to ask questions, and build strong curiosity in learning networking, HTTP protocol, application layer. 

Ten difference

I just copy the content from the article here. 

Both  are popular choices in the market; let us discuss some of the major difference :

1. WebSocket is a low-level protocol, based on the concept of socket and port, which are the underlying transport mechanism whereas REST is based on CRUD operation.
2. WebSocket require the use of IP address and Port details, which are lower level details for any application whereas RESTful application needs to design operation based on verbs, and HTTP based.
3. WebSocket is bi-directional in nature i.e. both way operation from client to server and vice versa is possible whereas REST follows a uni-directional approach.
4. WebSocket approach is ideal for real-time scalable application, whereas REST is better suited for the scenario with lots of getting request.
5. WebSocket is a stateful protocol whereas REST is based on stateless protocol i.e. client does not need to know about the server and same hold true for the server.
6. WebSocket connection can scale vertically on a single server whereas REST, which is HTTP based can scale horizontally.
7. WebSocket is ideal for a scenario where high loads are a part of game i.e. real-time scalable chat application whereas REST is better fitted for occasional communication, in a typical GET request scenario to call RESTful APIs.
8. WebSocket works better, where client-server communicates over the same TCP connection for the life of web socket connection whereas, for HTTP request, a new TCP connection is initiated.
9. WebSocket communication allows client and server to talk independently of each other whereas with the REST based approach, either client is talking to the client or server is talking to the client at any given time.
10. WebSocket communication cost is lower whereas REST-based communication is comparatively higher end on the cost.