what is RESTful api and difference between it and web service?

Question

can someone help me telling what is RESTful and difference with `web Service'? i tried to search but i get confused between it and web service can anyone help ?

Solution 1

It's name clearly state its meaning that services provided on the web are called a web service

web service has two type REST API and SOAP API

RESTful Web Services are basically REST Architecture based Web Services. In REST Architecture everything is a resource. RESTful web services are light weight, highly scalable and maintainable and are very commonly used to create APIs for web-based applications.

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a messaging protocol that allows programs that run on disparate operating systems (such as Windows and Linux) to communicate using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and its Extensible Markup Language (XML).

Solution 2

RESTful is one kind of web service. Another kind is SOAP. I think comment in this link will help you https://stackoverflow.com/a/2285743/4874281