GraphQL vs REST

REST and GraphQL solve the same core problem — transferring data between clients and servers — but with fundamentally different models. Understanding their trade-offs prevents choosing the wrong tool for your architecture.

REST's Resource Model

REST maps operations to HTTP verbs and URLs. Clients retrieve resources at well-known endpoints; the shape of the response is defined by the server. This predictability makes REST easy to cache at every layer of the network stack.

GraphQL's Query Model

GraphQL exposes a single endpoint and lets clients specify exactly what data they need in each request. This eliminates over-fetching and under-fetching but shifts cache complexity to the client, as responses are no longer simple URL-keyed resources.

When to Use Each

Prefer REST for public APIs, simple CRUD services, and wherever HTTP caching matters. Prefer GraphQL for client-driven data requirements, complex nested data with many optional fields, or when different clients (mobile vs web) need different shapes of the same data.