API Architecture Styles Choosing the Right API Style Today APIs come in many flavors, each suited for different needs. SOAP, though reliable for enterprise apps, feels outdated with its XML complexity. RESTful APIs are still the go-to for simplicity and wide adoption, but they can suffer from over- or under-fetching data. GraphQL is the modern favorite, perfect for getting exactly the data you need—great for front-end flexibility. gRPC shines in high-performance, microservices-heavy environments, while WebSockets handle real-time, low-latency communication brilliantly. Finally, Webhooks are ideal for event-driven applications with asynchronous needs. In today’s world, GraphQL or RESTful APIs often dominate, but your choice should depend on your app’s specific requirements.