Flow Ctrl Tech Engineering

REST API vs MQTT for Industrial Integration: Push vs Pull Architecture on Factory Floors

Architectural breakdown: when to use HTTP/REST request-response versus MQTT publish-subscribe when integrating factory PLC data with enterprise MES, ERP, and cloud systems.

  • HTTP request-response introduces substantial header overhead (hundreds of bytes) and polling latency.
  • MQTT maintains a persistent 2-byte header socket connection, pushing updates instantaneously upon change.
  • Use REST APIs for transactional queries (ERP work orders); use MQTT for high-frequency sensor telemetry.

Flow Ctrl Tech Engineering: Turnkey industrial automation, PLC programming, SCADA development, HMI, fieldbuses, and IIoT architectures. Contact our engineering center at [email protected] or phone +91 91110 91005.