GraphQL vs REST API: What’s their difference?

Tinker -

APIs are the backbone of modern web and mobile applications, enabling communication between frontend and backend systems. Two major approaches to building APIs are REST (Representational State Transfer) and GraphQL. While REST has been the traditional standard for years, GraphQL has gained popularity for its flexibility and efficiency.

What is REST API?

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style that uses standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to interact with resources, typically represented as URLs.

How REST Works

Each resource (like users, posts, comments) has its own endpoint:

  • GET /users/1 → Get user with ID 1
  • GET /users/1/posts → Get posts of user 1
  • POST /users → Create a new user

Data is usually returned in JSON format.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Simple and well-known: Easy to implement and understand.
  • HTTP caching: Supports caching using built-in HTTP features.
  • Wide adoption: Mature tooling and ecosystem.
  • Great for CRUD: Works well with standard create, read, update, delete operations.
  • Over-fetching or under-fetching: You may get too much or too little data.
  • Multiple requests: Related data often requires multiple endpoints.
  • Rigid structure: Fixed response formats can be limiting.
  • Versioning issues: Changing a response often means creating new versions.

What is GraphQL?

GraphQL is a query language for APIs developed by Facebook. Instead of accessing many endpoints, you send a single query to a GraphQL server and request only the data you need.

How GraphQL Works

Clients send a query that specifies:

  • Which resources they want
  • Which fields of those resources

A single endpoint handles all queries:

  • /graphql → Request any data
Example Query
Advantages Disadvantages
  • Precise data fetching: Get exactly what you need, nothing more.
  • Single endpoint: All queries go to one URL.
  • Better for complex relationships: Easily query nested and related data.
  • Strongly typed schema: The API is self-documented.
  • No versioning needed: Add new fields without breaking existing clients.
  • Steeper learning curve: Requires learning a new syntax and concepts.
  • Complex caching: No built-in HTTP caching.
  • Security risks: Overly complex queries can overload the server.
  • Not ideal for simple APIs: May be overkill for basic CRUD operations.
  • More setup: Requires schema, resolvers, and often more tooling.

Conclusion

Both REST and GraphQL are powerful tools for building APIs — the right one depends on your project’s complexity, performance needs, and team expertise.

  • REST is great for simplicity, caching, and traditional CRUD.
  • GraphQL shines in apps with dynamic and complex data needs.

Whichever you choose, understand the trade-offs, and consider combining them if necessary (e.g., using REST for simple endpoints and GraphQL for complex querying).