PayPal SOAP and NVP

Question

Hi,

I am new to PayPal and i want to know which is batter way to implement PayPal, SOAP or NVP API.

And what is the major difference between these two???

Answer 1

I would recommend using the NVP (Name-value pair, basically POST with data) API over the SOAP API. NVP should be significantly lighter weight than SOAP. There are a few questions already on SO that complain about SOAP. I just was trying to figure out which to use and came upon those. Hope that helps.

Also, here's how PayPal describes the NVP API:

The PayPal Name-Value Pair API (NVP API) enables you to leverage the functionality of the PayPal API by simply sending an HTTP request to PayPal and specifying request parameters using name-value pairs. The NVP API is a lightweight alternative to the PayPal SOAP API and provides access to the same set of functionality as the SOAP API.

Emphasis my own.

Answer 2

Its batter to user PayPal SOAP API (as i have completely implemented this). Donut will be correct to say this that NVP is lightweight. But there are 2 main advantages of using SOAP

1. The chance of error is much more the the NVP. As its object oriented
2. And if u are doing programing for at least about one year then u will feel more confirtable with SOAP.

I recoment SOAP over the NVP. But it also depends upon usage.