REST and GraphQL are two popular approaches to designing APIs. Each has its strengths and ideal use cases. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right architecture for your project.
REST API
REST (Representational State Transfer) uses standard HTTP methods and URLs to access resources:
GET /users — list usersGET /users/123 — get a specific userPOST /users — create a userPUT /users/123 — update a userDELETE /users/123 — delete a user
Pros
Simple and well-understoodExcellent caching with HTTP standardsStateless by designWide tooling and ecosystem support
Cons
Over-fetching: endpoints return fixed data shapesUnder-fetching: may need multiple requests for related dataVersioning can be challenging (v1, v2, etc.)
GraphQL
GraphQL lets clients request exactly the data they need with a single query:
Pros
No over-fetching or under-fetchingSingle endpoint for all queriesStrongly typed schemaBuilt-in introspection and documentation
Cons
Added complexity on the serverCaching is more difficultPotential for complex/expensive queriesSteeper learning curve
When to Choose What
Choose REST when:
You have simple, resource-oriented dataCaching is criticalYour team is familiar with REST patterns
Choose GraphQL when:
You have complex, nested data relationshipsMultiple clients need different data shapesYou want to reduce the number of API requests
Use our URL Encoder/Decoder to work with API URLs and query parameters.
