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Difference between Webservices and API

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Posted on by Dr Gomathi MVP, MCT...

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Hi,

I want to understand the difference between web services and API. What is the use of both?

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Dynamics 365 Business Central

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Shrey Chauhan 284 on at

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Hello,

Here's the Difference between Web Services and API's :

Web services require SOAP and XML to transfer data over a network, while APIs can use any protocols or design patterns.

APIs allow applications to communicate, while web services allow machines to communicate.

Web Services requires a network connection while APIs may or may not require a network for their operability.

Web services require SOAP and XML, which are no longer the most popular standard.

APIs are more efficient, with RESTful web services offering a more light-weight architecture web services are heavy.

Web services only support HTTP as a backbone, while APIs are more flexible.

Hope this help's to answer your question.

Thank You,

Shrey Chauhan

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YUN ZHU 98,349 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi, hope the following helps as well.

Business Central web services

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/webservices/web-services?wt.mc_id=DX-MVP-5004336

REST API Web Services

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/dev-itpro/webservices/api-overview?wt.mc_id=DX-MVP-5004336

Thanks.

ZHU

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