What is the difference between web service and REST API?

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Accepted Answer

Web service is a generic term for any service available over the internet, while REST API is a specific type of web service that follows REST architectural principles.

Web service is a broad term that encompasses any service available over the internet, including SOAP, REST, and others.
REST API is a specific type of web service that follows the principles of Representational State Transfer (REST).
REST APIs use standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE to perform CRUD operations on resources.
Web services can use different protocols like SOAP, XML-RPC, while REST APIs typically use JSON or XML for data exchange.
Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a variety of web services, including REST APIs for services like S3 and EC2.

What is the difference between web service and REST API?

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