In the world of software development, REST vs GraphQL has become a hot debate—and for good reason. APIs are the backbone of modern applications, enabling seamless communication between the client (like your mobile app or web browser) and the server (where all your data lives).
For years, REST APIs have dominated the scene. They’re reliable, well-documented, and easy to implement. But then GraphQL came along, offering a fresh approach that lets clients request only the data they need.
In this blog, we’ll break down what REST and GraphQL are, how they work, where they shine, and when to use each, complete with examples, real-world metaphors, and a clear REST vs GraphQL comparison.
A Restaurant Analogy: RESTful API vs GraphQL
Imagine you walk into a restaurant.
REST API:
You order a burger combo. You get the burger, fries, and a drink—even if you only wanted the burger. That’s REST. The server decides what you get, even if you didn’t ask for all of it.
GraphQL API:
You say, “Just the burger, please.” The waiter brings only the burger. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s GraphQL—a flexible, precise data-fetching model.
What Is REST?
REST stands for Representational State Transfer. It’s an architectural style for building web services and has been the standard for many years.
REST APIs work by exposing resources through multiple endpoints, each accessed using HTTP methods like:
| Method | Endpoint | Description |
| GET | /api/products | Get all products |
| GET | /api/products/1 | Get product with ID 1 |
| POST | /api/products | Create a new product |
| PUT | /api/products/1 | Update a product |
| DELETE | /api/products/1 | Delete a product |
REST API Example
Response:
That’s a solid response, but what if your app only needs the product name and price? REST provides the entire package, unless the server is specifically configured to deliver only part of it.
What Is GraphQL?
GraphQL is a query language for APIs, developed by Facebook in 2012 and open-sourced in 2015. It uses a single endpoint and allows the client to define exactly what data it wants.
Instead of multiple fixed endpoints, GraphQL provides flexibility by using a schema that defines types, queries, and mutations.
Core Concepts:
- Query: Fetch data
- Mutation: Modify data
- Schema: Defines available data and relationships
GraphQL Query Example
Response:
✅ Clean, lightweight, and exactly what was requested.
REST vs GraphQL Comparison
| Feature | REST | GraphQL |
| Endpoints | Multiple URLs per resource | Single endpoint (/graphql) |
| Data Fetching | Fixed structure; over-fetching likely | Client specifies fields; no waste |
| HTTP Methods | GET, POST, PUT, DELETE | Typically POST (for both queries & mutations) |
| Caching | Easy via HTTP GET | More complex, requires a custom strategy |
| Tooling | Simple (Postman, cURL, browser) | Needs tools like Apollo |
| Versioning | Manual (/v1, /v2, etc.) | No need—schema evolves |
| Dedicated Packages | Not Required | Requires packages and tools on both the frontend and backend |
When to Use REST vs GraphQL?
Use REST API when:
- Your API is simple and CRUD-based
- You want to use HTTP caching
- You’re building public APIs or microservices
- You prefer minimal tooling or need to support older systems
Use GraphQL when:
- Your frontend needs custom or nested data
- You want to reduce the number of API calls
- You’re building an SPA or mobile app with a dynamic UI that needs
- You need flexibility and scalability
In simple terms:
Choose REST for simplicity and stability.
Choose GraphQL for flexibility and precision.
Pros and Cons Summary
🔹 REST Pros:
- Easy to use and test
- Simple to cache
- Familiar to most developers
🔹 REST Drawbacks:
- Over-fetching/under-fetching issues
- More endpoints = more versioning chaos
- Difficult to manage complex relationships
🔹 GraphQL Pros:
- Flexible data fetching
- Reduces network requests
- Great for frontend-heavy apps
🔹 GraphQL Drawbacks:
- More setup and tooling required
- Harder to implement HTTP caching
- Overkill for small projects
Conclusion
Both REST and GraphQL are powerful in their own right. REST is easy to understand, well-documented, and supported almost everywhere. GraphQL, on the other hand, gives your frontend team the superpower to request only what they need, especially useful in modern SPAs and mobile apps.
Use REST when you’re building something quick, simple, and cache-friendly.
Use GraphQL when you need fine control over the data, and your UI must evolve quickly.
REST is the set meal.
GraphQL is the custom order.
Both get the job done—you just need to know which kitchen you’re cooking in.
In the next blog, we’ll dive into how to use GraphQL with Laravel using the Lighthouse package—a powerful tool that makes it easy to implement GraphQL APIs in your Laravel application.
Stay tuned!
