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JsonAPI VS OData

Compare JsonAPI VS OData and see what are their differences

JsonAPI logo JsonAPI

Application and Data, Languages & Frameworks, and Query Languages

OData logo OData

OData, short for Open Data Protocol, is an open protocol to allow the creation and consumption of queryable and interoperable RESTful APIs in a simple and standard way.
  • JsonAPI Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-21
  • OData Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-21

JsonAPI features and specs

  • Standardization
    JSON:API provides a standardized format for building APIs, which promotes consistency and interoperability between different APIs.
  • Efficiency
    It supports features like sparse fieldsets, compound documents, and included relationships which help in reducing the amount of data transferred and improving response times.
  • Decoupling
    JSON:API encourages a clear separation between client and server, allowing them to evolve independently as long as they adhere to the specification.
  • Error Handling
    It has a well-defined error format that makes it easier for clients to understand what went wrong and how to fix it.
  • Community and Tooling
    A growing community and increasing tooling support make it easier to implement JSON:API in various server-side and client-side technologies.

Possible disadvantages of JsonAPI

  • Complexity
    The specification can be complex and may introduce a learning curve for developers who are new to it or used to simpler REST approaches.
  • Overhead
    Strict adherence to the JSON:API specification can sometimes introduce additional overhead in terms of implementation effort, especially for small projects.
  • Flexibility
    While the standardization is beneficial, it can reduce flexibility in scenarios where a more customized or optimized solution is needed.
  • Adoption
    Although growing, JSON:API is not as widely adopted as other conventions like simple REST, and thus some developers and projects might resist switching to it.
  • Resource Intensive
    Some features of JSON:API, like relationship links and included resources, can become resource-intensive for the server if not implemented carefully.

OData features and specs

  • Interoperability
    OData allows for standardized communication between diverse systems by providing a common protocol, which improves data sharing and collaboration across different platforms.
  • Simplicity
    Using HTTP for query operations, OData simplifies data access through RESTful APIs, making it accessible for developers familiar with web services.
  • Flexibility
    OData supports a wide range of data formats such as JSON, XML, and AtomPub, giving developers the flexibility to choose the best format for their needs.
  • Data Querying
    The protocol allows complex querying capabilities directly in the URL through a standard syntax, which simplifies data retrieval and manipulation.
  • Integration
    OData is well-suited for integration with other Microsoft products and services, as well as many enterprise systems, due to its wide adoption and support.

Possible disadvantages of OData

  • Overhead
    While offering a standardized approach, OData can introduce additional overhead with metadata-heavy responses, which can be inefficient for larger datasets.
  • Complexity in Implementation
    Despite its simplicity in concept, implementing OData services can become complex, particularly when customizing or extending beyond basic functionalities.
  • Limited Industry Adoption
    Compared to other RESTful services, OData's adoption outside of Microsoft and SAP environments is relatively limited, which can restrict its use in certain industries.
  • Scalability Concerns
    OData services, when not implemented efficiently, may face scalability issues under high load due to verbose nature and complex processing requirements.
  • Security Challenges
    Ensuring security in OData services requires additional considerations and may involve more complex configurations to handle authentication and authorization.

JsonAPI videos

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OData videos

Introduction To OData

More videos:

  • Review - Webinar: OData and ASP.NET Core 3.1 - State of the Union
  • Review - Enabling OData in ASP.NET Core 3.1 (Experimental)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to JsonAPI and OData)
Development
100 100%
0% 0
API Tools
63 63%
37% 37
Developer Tools
58 58%
42% 42
Project Management
63 63%
37% 37

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, JsonAPI seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 49 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

JsonAPI mentions (49)

  • OSF API: The Complete Guide
    Built on JSON API standards, the OSF API is intuitive for anyone familiar with REST conventions. Once you learn its core patterns, you can quickly expand into project creation, user collaboration, and more—without constantly referencing documentation. The official OSF API docs provide everything needed to get started. - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • Common Mistakes in RESTful API Design
    Following established patterns reduces the learning curve for your API. Adopt conventions from JSON:API or Microsoft API Guidelines to provide consistent experiences. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Starting the Console front-end for Rainbow Platform
    I’ve used both GraphQL and REST in the past. From json:api to Relay, each approach for building APIs has its pros and cons. However, a constant challenge is choosing between code-first and schema-first approaches. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • REST API: Best practices and design
    There is a group of people who set out to standardize JSON responses into a single response style, either for returning single or multiple resources. You can take their style as a reference when designing their API to ensure uniformity of responses. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • Path To A Clean(er) React Architecture - Domain Entities & DTOs
    The server seems to be using the popular JSON:API standard which is a great way to build APIs. But should we really use these data structures in the frontend? - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
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OData mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of OData yet. Tracking of OData recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing JsonAPI and OData, you can also consider the following products

ReqRes - A hosted REST-API ready to respond to your AJAX requests.

GraphQL - GraphQL is a data query language and runtime to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps.

JSON Placeholder - JSON Placeholder is a modern platform that provides you online REST API, which you can instantly use whenever you need any fake data.

Django REST framework - Django REST framework is a toolkit for building web APIs.

graphql.js - A reference implementation of GraphQL for JavaScript - graphql/graphql-js

Falcor - Falcor is a JavaScript library for efficient data fetching.