API Design: REST vs. GraphQL

APIs run the web. No joke. Every app. Every website. Every service you use? They all talk to servers through APIs. And when it comes to API design, two big players dominate the space. REST and GraphQL. You’ve probably heard devs argue about them. Maybe you’re stuck picking one for your own project. Either way, this is gonna be fun. Let’s dive in.

REST – The Old Reliable

REST has been around forever. Not literally. But in internet years, yeah. It’s built on HTTP and follows a resource-driven structure. You want user data? You hit GET /users/123. Need to update? Throw in a PUT. Simple. Predictable.

Why REST Rocks

It’s everywhere – REST is the industry standard. Almost every dev knows how it works.

Scales like a beast – CDNs, caching, load balancers – all built with REST in mind.

Works with HTTP’s built-in features – Status codes. Headers. Authentication.

Predictable URLs – Makes debugging and API documentation easier.

Mature ecosystem – Tons of tools, frameworks, and best practices already in place.

Sounds like a dream. But nothing is perfect.

Where REST Trips Up

Over-fetching / Under-fetching – Ever called an API and got way more data than needed? Or not enough? Yep. REST does that.

Too many calls – Need a user and their posts? Better start stacking requests.

Harder to change – Want to tweak responses? Tough. API clients have to deal with whatever REST throws at them.

Versioning mess – v1, v2, v3... Before you know it, you’re maintaining different API versions.

Not flexible enough for modern apps – Mobile apps, SPAs, and microservices often need more flexibility than REST provides.

Enter GraphQL.

GraphQL – The New Kid With Superpowers

Facebook had a problem. Their mobile app needed too many REST calls. Data was all over the place. So they built GraphQL. Instead of multiple requests, you send one query. Get exactly what you need. No extra fluff. No missing pieces.

Why GraphQL Wins Hearts

Client controls the response – Ask for what you need. Get only that. Nothing more. Nothing less.

One request does it all – Need a user? Their posts? Comments? Fetch everything in one call.

Self-documenting – The API knows its own schema. You don’t need guesswork.

Real-time magic – Subscriptions make live updates smooth. Think chat apps. Stock tickers.

Strongly typed schema – Clients always know what data to expect.

No versioning mess – Clients dictate what fields they need, so breaking changes happen less.

But GraphQL Ain’t Perfect

Caching is tricky – REST plays well with HTTP caching. GraphQL? Not so much. Custom solutions required.

Server load can spike – Complex queries? Backend might sweat a little.

More setup needed – You don’t just plug and play. Schema, resolvers, optimizations – all need work.

Security concerns – Uncontrolled queries can slow down your system. Rate limiting is a must.

Learning curve – REST is simple. GraphQL? More to learn before you’re productive.

REST vs GraphQL – Which One’s For You?

Every project is different. Some scream for REST. Others demand GraphQL. Let’s break it down.

When REST Makes Sense

Simplicity is key. REST is easy to implement.
You rely on HTTP caching. Performance boost is real.
API clients don’t need fine-tuned responses. Just fetch and go.
Security needs are high. REST has a battle-tested ecosystem.
Large-scale public APIs that need predictability and reliability.

Why Pick GraphQL?

You’re dealing with nested or complex data.
The client needs flexibility in fetching info.
Mobile apps or SPAs where fewer requests matter.
Real-time updates are part of your game plan.
Frontend-heavy teams that want more control over data fetching.

Some teams even mix both. REST for public APIs. GraphQL for internal microservices.

Who’s Using What?

Big names. Big choices.

Twitter, Stripe, GitHub – REST is their jam. Predictability and caching keep things smooth.

Facebook, Shopify, Airbnb – GraphQL is life. Flexibility matters more than convention.

Netflix? A bit of both. Whatever works best for the situation.

Amazon and Google – Mostly REST, but experimenting with GraphQL internally.

Final Thoughts

API design isn’t just about hype. It’s about choosing the right tool for the job. REST? Solid. GraphQL? Powerful. No one-size-fits-all.

For big caching needs and simplicity, REST is a no-brainer. But if you want precision, real-time updates, and nested queries in a single call, GraphQL wins.

At the end of the day, the best API is one that serves your users without making devs cry. Choose wisely. Code smart. And keep building cool stuff.