Rest API vs Graph QL
Published: 2023-03-31 11:10:43

In this blog post we will discuss about what is Rest? What is GraphQL?. We will discuss about difference between Rest and GraphQL also we will check when to use Rest and GraphQL. 
Now a days, REST APIs and GraphQL are two popular technologies used for building APIs. This allows developers to interact with a server and retrieve data. Both REST and GraphQL have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and which one to use depends on your specific use case. So, we will explore the differences between REST and GraphQL and provide some overview on when to use which technology.

**What is REST?**

REST stands for Representational State Transfer. REST is an architectural style used for building web services. RESTful APIs use HTTP requests to GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE data. RESTful APIs mostly return data in JSON or XML format.

REST is based on a client-server architecture, which means that the client makes a request to the server, and the server responds with the requested data. RESTful APIs use URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers) to identify resources, and HTTP methods are used to perform actions on those resources.

RESTful APIs we have been we are using since a long time and are well established, with a large community and plenty of resources available for developers. They are straightforward to build and are compatible with a wide range of programming languages.

It is an HTTP method describes the type of request that is sent to the server. They are:

GET - To reads a representation of a specified source.
POST - To creates a new specified source.
PUT - To updates/replaces every resource in a collection.
PATCH - To modifies a source.
DELETE - To deletes a source.

**What is GraphQL?**

GraphQL is a query language for APIs. GraphQL was developed by Facebook in 2012. GraphQL allows developers to request exactly the data what they need, and nothing more. Unlike REST, which returns fixed data structures, GraphQL lets the client specify the shape of the data it needs, and the server returns only that data.

GraphWL uses a schema to define the data that can be queried, and it uses a query language to request that data. GraphQL APIs can return data in any format, including JSON and XML.

GraphQL is become increasingly popular in recent years because it provides a more efficient and flexible way to retrieve data from an API. It eliminates the problem of **over-fetching** and **under-fetching data**, which can be a problem with RESTful APIs.

**Differences between REST and GraphQL**

The core difference between GraphQL and REST APIs is - GraphQL is a specification, a query language; while REST is an architectural concept for network-based software.

Another major differences between REST and GraphQL is how data is requested. In REST, the client makes a request to the server for a specific resource, and the server responds with all the data associated with that resource.
With GraphQL, the client specifies the data it needs, and the server responds with only that data.

Another difference is the way data is represented. RESTful APIs typically use JSON or XML to represent data, while GraphQL can return data in any format.

RESTful APIs are straightforward to build and are compatible with a wide range of programming languages. GraphQL is more complex to build, but it provides a more efficient and flexible way to retrieve data from an API.

![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/m33a0l8420naq7e5xyss.png)

**When to use REST and when to use GraphQL**

The choice between REST and GraphQL depends on your specific use case. Here below are some general guidelines:

**Use REST if:**

If your API has a fixed set of resources, and the data associated with those resources doesn't change frequently.
You need to support a wide range of clients, including web browsers, mobile devices, and IoT devices.
You need a simple API that is easy to build and maintain.

**Use GraphQL if**

Your API has a large number of resources, and the data associated with those resources changes frequently.
You need to support a wide range of clients, but you want to minimize the amount of data transferred over the network.
You want a flexible API that can adapt to changing client needs.
 
**Conclusion**

In conclusion, both REST and GraphQL are powerful technologies that can be used to build APIs. REST is well established and easy to build, while GraphQL provides a more efficient and flexible way to retrieve data from an API. The choice between REST and GraphQL depends on your specific use case.