CompTIA PenTest+ Practice Test

Which document serves as the REST API equivalent of a WSDL document that defines a SOAP-based web service?

1. Swagger document

2. OpenAPI specification

3. API blueprint

4. JSON schema

The correct answer is: Swagger document

The Swagger document serves as the REST API equivalent of a WSDL document that defines a SOAP-based web service because it provides a comprehensive description of a RESTful API's endpoints, request and response formats, and authentication methods. Essentially, it outlines how developers can interact with the API in a structured way, similar to how WSDL defines the operations and protocols of a SOAP service. Swagger documents are used to automatically generate documentation and client SDKs, facilitating easier integration and understanding of the API's capabilities. They describe each endpoint with detailed information on methods (GET, POST, etc.), parameters, and the responses that can be expected. This level of detail helps developers consume the API effectively, improving development efficiency. The other options, while related to API documentation and definitions, do not fulfill the same role as the Swagger document in the context of REST APIs. The OpenAPI specification is closely associated with Swagger, as Swagger has evolved into this specification. API blueprint is another documentation format but lacks the same level of integration and support. JSON schema is primarily used for validating the structure of JSON data but does not provide detailed descriptions of APIs.