WP-AJAX vs WP REST API: What to use for requests to the website from outside?

Each of these have their own advantages and disadvantages. You might need to choose one over another, based on your needs. They are both well secured, otherwise they wouldn’t exist in the core.

REST-API, The modern and well known API

The REST API was added to ( or better say, combined with ) the core more recently than Admin-AJAX. It is perfect to be used in mobile apps and API developments.

Advantages

  • Is simpler to write, develop and debug
  • Does not need separate functions for logged-in and non-logged-in users
  • The core already has some built-in handlers that speed up the development process
  • The response can easily be used in applications or platforms that do not run on WordPress

Disadvantages

  • It does not produce any user-friendly response. The output is in JSON, which can’t be used in some cases, such as SEO purposes. However, some might find this an advantage
  • Working with JavaScript and JSON needs more knowledge than handling a simple text output

Admin-AJAX, The ancient AJAX handler of WordPress

Admin AJAX existed in the core for as long as I remember, and is the way the core itself deals with the requests in the admin area.

Advantages

  • It directly outputs the content, which can be used anywhere, even by search engines. Some scripts such as Custombox only support this kind of response
  • It has separate functions for logged-in and logged-out users. While you can do this with a conditional in the REST-API, some may find this useful
  • Working with the response is easier, since all you need is to put it in a div or wherever you need

Disadvantages

  • Since the output is plain HTML ( By default ) it shouldn’t ( or maybe even can’t ) be used in APIs and application development

Conclusion

It’s very hard to say which one should be used, they are both useful handlers and if any of them wasn’t secure, it certainly would not have existed in the core for so many years. So there is not a problem of security, but still if you are concerned about the security, you need an SSL certificate.

It’s rather performance, type of request, and development platform that decides which one should be used.

Related Posts:

  1. Using Backbone with the WordPress AJAX API
  2. Including WordPress in RESTful API
  3. REST API endpoint for elasticpress autosuggest
  4. Gutenberg – how to correctly perform ajax request on backend
  5. AJAX request from Chrome Extension to WordPress Website
  6. WP REST API route request explain
  7. Confused on AJAX submit form through page template
  8. Solve cors problem using rest api or ajax
  9. Is there a hook to process a backbone restful PUT request inside wordpress?
  10. Extending wp JavaScript base class to make a post request to a custom REST endpoint
  11. How to add WP API and JS featured image attachment
  12. how to send Ajax request in wordpress backend
  13. Identical wp_rest nonce returned from rest_api
  14. How do I get reusable blocks via frontend REST API?
  15. Is there builtin way to use protected AJAX endpoint?
  16. rest_no_route custom route
  17. Test WordPress api with postman
  18. How to load content from many posts on a page, only if needed
  19. How do I query posts by a sub value with the API?
  20. merge wp rest api query to get posts per category does not work
  21. Ways to load admin-ajax faster without initializing all plugins?
  22. How to make a fetch() POST request to wordpress rest api?
  23. post values to custom post type which has advanced custom fields
  24. REST public POST giving 403 forbidden nginx
  25. Is it good practice to use REST API in wp-admin plugin page? [closed]
  26. 404 error custom post type rest api
  27. How to require files in a custom endpoint
  28. Create a post with REST API and adding a category
  29. Should I edit a user meta field with PUT, PATCH, or POST and WP::Editable
  30. How to trigger lost password email using REST API?
  31. how reduce fetch/XHR response time
  32. Custom WP rest api endpoint only working on non https?
  33. Why are the most recent posts not appearing in a fetch request, unless I’m logged in?
  34. How to submit a button automatically after every scheduled hours?
  35. PHP “php://input” vs $_POST
  36. Ajax and autocomplete
  37. Load tinyMCE / wp_editor() via AJAX [duplicate]
  38. Saving (Updating) Post / Page Edits With AJAX
  39. How to correctly load wordpress in a non WP script for AJAX request
  40. Minimal WordPress load for only `get_option` to work (because ajax…)
  41. Plupload in metabox – AJAX action not working in Class
  42. Admin Ajax always return 0 on form submit
  43. Ajax call in wordpress not working for subscriber user in front site
  44. add_action(‘wp_ajax_[action name]’, myfunction) problem
  45. Can part of my WordPress website be headless?
  46. Nonces, AJAX, script variables & security in WordPress
  47. wp_localize_script escaping my url – fix or alternative
  48. Insert wp_editor on front-end with AJAX?
  49. Buddypress: Load Ajax Without Template Pack [closed]
  50. Woocommerce Ajax Add cart not working
  51. I have to post data by AJAX in wordpress to another Website
  52. Placement of add_action() for ajax callback?
  53. WordPress ajax problem need wordpress expert?
  54. Ajax WordPress Login needs to be stayed in current page Url without redirecting
  55. wp_ajax function did not call
  56. wp_handle_upload returns empty error array
  57. Popup or admin/update notice on post/page edit screen without page refresh
  58. Single page site + pushState?
  59. Interim-Login form on frontend
  60. WordPress ajax call returns a zero though die()
  61. Save value from Javascript object to WP user
  62. wp_update_post onclick button using ajax
  63. add Additional class to woocommerce cart-contents link
  64. Ajax insert or update data
  65. wp_ajax declaration confusing for Front end
  66. Delete ACF repeater field row on Front End
  67. No errors in the console but Ajax call doesn’t seem to be working
  68. Preprocess submitted data
  69. Update status, meta while inside a post using AJAX button
  70. How to disable drag-and-drop upload function in Media Library?
  71. update_option in WordPress AJAX
  72. ajax in admin menu
  73. admin-ajax.php not loading anymore
  74. How do you use do_shortcode via AJAX call?
  75. Auto-suggest to display meta-data, but not to include it upon click
  76. Loading pages via Ajax and displaying titles
  77. Ajax Favorite from foreach (how to specify which result result is processed)
  78. change wordpress pagination url after doing the request
  79. How to send automatic response after form submission without plugin
  80. Refresh Gutenberg with JS for it show updated post
  81. How to return a record from a custom table by sending an AJAX request
  82. 400 Bad Request getting on AJAX Call
  83. admin-ajax.php 403 errors – no caching, permissions are fine
  84. React to AJAX adding to the page
  85. gform_after_submission does not work on ajax enabled form
  86. How can I run two AJAX requests simultaneously in WordPress?
  87. Issue developing an AJAX form with WordPress
  88. Calendar month navigation in Ajax only working once
  89. 403 error for ajax POST request
  90. How modify comments metabox on post edit screen in WordPress?
  91. my ajax action doesn’t get hit
  92. Strange AJAX problem (SOMETIMES works in Chrome/FF, ALWAYS works in Midori)
  93. How to check for dependencies for a specific page and enqueue them
  94. Get Page Type (Category/Tag) Using AJAX
  95. Loads posts of different year via AJAX call
  96. Data from ajax not updating post meta
  97. BBPress AJAX problem
  98. Ajax Slideshow in Post
  99. wordpress ajax always return 0
  100. WordPress wp_localize_script nonce and ajax URL

Leave a Comment