Performance Comparison of RESTful Web APIs Using a Test Suite: .NET Vs. Java Spring Boot

Modern web development methods use full-stack to split front-end (client-side) and back-end (server-side) components. Front-end technologies involve what the user sees and interacts with, and back-end technologies involve the server-side logic, databases, and server configuration. Both sections can be technologically independent, yet there’s a need for a communications protocol. In modern web development, web APIs enable applications to interact with external services and exchange data, allowing the back-end to communicate with multiple and different front-ends. The landscape of software development, especially in web platforms, is in a constant state of technological advancement. Selecting the right technology for building a Web API requires a comparative analysis to make informed decisions. Performance testing of a web API involves evaluating various performance characteristics, such as response time, reliability, scalability, and resource utilization under different scenarios. However, many testing frameworks focus on specific components or HTTP methods rather than considering the entire technology stack, potentially leading to inaccurate performance assessments. In this study, two web APIs were developed—one using .NET and the other employing Java Spring Boot. Both APIs use the same database engine and the same database to manipulate identical datasets. By utilizing a test scenario and toolset, real-world conditions can be simulated, allowing for the evaluation and visualization of the results of each test to facilitate performance comparison.