GraphQL vs REST: Which One Should You Choose?

REST has been the standard for years, but GraphQL is changing how we think about data fetching. Is it time to switch?

What is GraphQL?

GraphQL is a query language for APIs. Instead of multiple endpoints, you have one.

The Over-fetching Problem (REST)

You want a user's name. You call GET /users/1. The server returns the name, plus email, address, history, preferences... 50KB of JSON for one string.

The Solution (GraphQL)

query {
  user(id: 1) {
    name
  }
}

The server returns exactly what you asked for.

Pros and Cons

GraphQL Pros

• No Over-fetching: Save bandwidth.
• Strongly Typed: Schema acts as contract.
• Single Endpoint: No managing versions of URLs.

GraphQL Cons

• Complexity: Harder to set up than REST.
• Caching: HTTP caching is harder (everything is POST).
• N+1 Problem: Easy to write inefficient queries.

When to Use Which?

• Use REST if: Simple app, caching is critical, resource-driven data.
• Use GraphQL if: Mobile apps (bandwidth), complex relational data, many different clients.