CoAP vs HTTP | difference between CoAP and HTTP
This page compares CoAP vs HTTP and describes difference between CoAP and HTTP protocols. CoAP stands for Constrained Application Protocol and HTTP stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. It provides link to difference between HTTP and HTTPS.
CoAP-Constrained Application Protocol

This protocol is upgraded version of HTTP.
It is designed for resource constained applications such as IoT/WSN/M2M etc.
It is based on UDP. It uses ACK messages so that it will become reliable like TCP.
It has low latency and consumes lesser power compare to HTTP.
Refer CoAP Protocol basics➤.
HTTP-Hyper Text Transfer Protocol

Figure-1 depicts HTTP protocol used between client and server as unsecured connection.
HTTPS version of HTTP is used to provide secured connection.
HTTP is used mainly to view web pages or websites.
The protocol is designed for internet based applications and devices where power and any other
constaints are not there.It is TCP based protocol.
Refer HTTP and HTTPS basics➤.
Following is the tabular difference between CoAP and HTTP protocols.
Feature | CoAP | HTTP |
---|---|---|
Protocol | It uses UDP. | It uses TCP. |
Network layer | It uses IPv6 along with 6LoWPAN. | It uses IP layer. |
Multicast support | It supports. | It does not support. |
Architecture model | CoAP uses both client-Server & Publish-Subscribe models. | HTTP uses client and server architecture. |
Synchronous communication | CoAP does not need this. | HTTP needs this. |
Overhead | Less overhead and it is simple. | More overhead compare to CoAP and it is complex. |
Application | Designed for resource constrained networking devices such as WSN/IoT/M2M. | Designed for internet devices where there is no issue of any resources. |
What is Difference between
SLIP vs PPP
FTP vs HTTP
FTP vs SMTP
FTP vs TFTP
hub Vs switch
circuit switching Vs packet switching
firewall Vs router
HDLC Vs PPP
IGRP Vs EIGRP
HTTP vs HTTPS
Networking related links
Basics of OSI and TCPIP layers
Networking Gateway
What is Router
What is an IP address
network switch
network bridge
Hub and Types of Hub
What is MAC address