Which data formats does REST support according to its advantages over SOAP?

• A. Only XML
• B. XML and JSON
• C. HTML and XML
• D. JSON only

Answer: (B)

The correct answer highlights that REST supports both XML and JSON data formats, which is a significant advantage when compared to SOAP. REST (Representational State Transfer) is designed to be lightweight and easy to use, allowing for more flexibility in the types of data formats it can handle.

XML has historically been one of the common formats for transferring data in web services, and it remains relevant in many applications. However, JSON has become increasingly popular due to its simplicity and efficiency, especially in web-based applications where data exchange often involves JavaScript.

By supporting both XML and JSON, REST provides users with the versatility to choose the format that best suits their needs, whether that be for human readability, ease of parsing, or integration with various programming environments. This dual support fosters wider adoption among developers and enables more varied use cases, making REST a powerful architectural style for web APIs.

The other options are limited in scope either by focusing on a single format or by excluding JSON, which is integral to modern applications. JSON's prominence, especially in the context of RESTful APIs, is a key reason why the support for both XML and JSON stands out as an advantage.