GraphQL vs REST API: Core Differences and When to Choose GraphQL

GraphQL vs REST

REST

• Resource-oriented; each endpoint represents a resource
• Fixed response shape—prone to over-fetching or under-fetching
• Multiple resources require multiple round trips
• Native HTTP caching for GET requests

GraphQL

• Schema-driven; single endpoint for all queries
• Client specifies exactly which fields it needs
• One request can combine multiple resources
• Strongly-typed schema with built-in introspection

When to Choose

Scenario	Recommendation
Multiple clients needing different data shapes	GraphQL
Complex relational data	GraphQL
Public third-party API	REST
Simple CRUD service	REST
Heavy HTTP / CDN caching	REST

Common Pitfalls

• N+1 Queries: use DataLoader for batched resolver calls
• Security: limit query depth and complexity
• Caching: POST-first breaks CDN cache; use Persisted Queries