The REST Approach
REST has been the standard for API design for over a decade. It's simple, widely understood, and works great for many use cases. RESTful APIs use standard HTTP methods and are stateless by design.
Enter GraphQL
GraphQL offers a different approach: clients can request exactly the data they need, nothing more, nothing less. This eliminates over-fetching and under-fetching problems common in REST APIs.
When to Use REST
- Simple, straightforward CRUD operations
- File uploads and downloads
- HTTP caching is important
- Team familiarity with REST
When to Use GraphQL
- Complex, nested data requirements
- Multiple clients with different data needs
- Rapid frontend iteration
- Real-time data with subscriptions
The choice isn't always clear-cut. Consider your team's expertise, project requirements, and long-term maintenance.