# Comparing sdk vs client library

**URL:** <https://forum.confluent.io/t/comparing-sdk-vs-client-library/1648>\
**Category:** Confluent Cloud\
**Created:** [2 May 2021 23:04 UTC](https://forum.confluent.io/t/comparing-sdk-vs-client-library/1648 "2021-05-02T23:04:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![callumd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@callumd](https://forum.confluent.io/u/callumd)\
**Post date:** [2 May 2021 23:04 UTC](https://forum.confluent.io/t/comparing-sdk-vs-client-library/1648/1 "2021-05-02T23:04:03Z")

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hi, I am looking for some comparison docs or pointers to clarify pros/cons of using kafka client library vs rest proxy. I understand use of rest proxy is great for generic producing/consuming records but am keen to know more about performance/feature limitation. I can’t see a single document on Confluent drawing up this comparison.

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**Author:** ![rick](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.confluent.io/rick/32/49_2.png) [@rick](https://forum.confluent.io/u/rick)\
**Post date:** [4 May 2021 13:05 UTC](https://forum.confluent.io/t/comparing-sdk-vs-client-library/1648/2 "2021-05-04T13:05:31Z")

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The client libraries are the native implementation of the Kafka protocol where the REST API is an http adapter layer. A performance comparison of the two would not be meaningful as the REST API has to adapt HTTP requests into Kafka protocol as well as negotiate the network for the HTTP\<\>Kafka Protocol layers.

The reasons you may choose to use the REST API is if a client binding is not available for a language you desire. Or possibly you’d like to produce and consume events using a lightweight approach over HTTP which could free you from maintaining the Kafka consumer/producer instances and lively network state.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/confluentcommunity/original/1X/c49438c90c9df282e9996fdf6971be890c71b65a.svg) [@system](https://forum.confluent.io/u/system)\
**Post date:** [11 May 2021 13:06 UTC](https://forum.confluent.io/t/comparing-sdk-vs-client-library/1648/3 "2021-05-11T13:06:19Z")

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