Rest vs GraphQL: Comparison, Advantages, and Disadvantages
Since being introduced GraphQL has taken the API world by storm as an alternative to REST APIs. However, GraphQL is not simply an evolutionary replacement for REST, let’s take a look at both and then you’ll decide when each makes sense for your application.
REST is an acronym for Representational State Transfer. REST is a way for two computer systems to communicate over HTTP in a similar way to web browsers and servers. Sharing data between two or more systems has always been a fundamental requirement of software development.
REST API Advantages:
- Scalability;
- Popularity;
- Flexibility;
- Rich Support.
GraphQL is a query language (that’s what the “QL” stands for) for APIs and a runtime for fulfilling those queries with the existing data. It is used to load data from a server to a client which is a way to get data from an API into your application.
GraphQL Advantages:
- Connects Frontend and Backend;
- Each Client Specifies Exactly What Data is Used on the Backend;
- A Strong Type System.
Both REST and GraphQL are the main ways to design how an API will function and how applications will access data from it. While REST had significantly simplified the work of developers with its standardized approach, it does have a few drawbacks. GraphQL, with its queries, schemas, and resolvers offers more flexibility. Moreover, GraphQL can offer better performance.
Follow the guide to learn more.
