7 API Types Every Developer Should Know (REST, gRPC, GraphQL & More)

A breakdown of seven API types developers should know: REST (stateless, HTTP-based, ideal for most CRUD apps), SOAP (XML-based, enterprise-grade security for banking/healthcare), gRPC (binary protocol buffers over HTTP/2, up to 10x faster, supports streaming), GraphQL (single endpoint, fetch exactly what you need, self-documenting schemas), Webhooks (event-driven reverse callbacks), WebSockets (persistent bidirectional connections for real-time apps), and WebRTC (peer-to-peer browser communication for video/audio with no server in the middle). Each type is explained with real-world use cases like Netflix, GitHub, Stripe, and Zoom.