Answer: REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for networked applications that relies on a stateless, client-server communication model, typically using standard HTTP methods and lightweight data formats like JSON or XML. It's more flexible and generally simpler to implement. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), on the other hand, is a protocol that uses XML to define a standard format for sending messages over a network. It's more rigid, requires a formal contract (WSDL), and often relies on specific transport protocols like HTTP, SMTP, or TCP. SOAP generally offers more built-in security and reliability features, making it suitable for enterprise-level applications with strict requirements.