GraphQL vs REST in 2025: Choosing the Right API Architecture

The debate between GraphQL and REST continues, but it's not about which is "better"—it's about which is right for your specific use case. Let's explore both approaches with real-world examples and practical guidance.

REST: The Established Standard

REST (Representational State Transfer) has been the dominant API architecture for over a decade.

REST Basics

// GET /api/users/123
{
  "id": 123,
  "name": "Alice",
  "email": "alice@example.com"
}

// GET /api/users/123/posts
[
  { "id": 1, "title": "First Post", "content": "..." },
  { "id": 2, "title": "Second Post", "content": "..." }
]

// POST /api/posts
{
  "title": "New Post",
  "content": "Post content",
  "userId": 123
}

REST Strengths

1. Simplicity and Familiarity

Everyone understands REST:

// Express.js REST API
app.get('/api/users/:id', async (req, res) => {
  const user = await db.users.findById(req.params.id);
  res.json(user);
});

app.post('/api/users', async (req, res) => {
  const user = await db.users.create(req.body);
  res.status(201).json(user);
});

2. HTTP Caching

Standard HTTP caching works out of the box:

GET /api/users/123
Cache-Control: public, max-age=3600
ETag: "abc123"

3. Built-in HTTP Features

Leverage existing HTTP infrastructure:

// Status codes
res.status(404).json({ error: 'Not found' });

// Headers
res.setHeader('X-Rate-Limit', '100');

// Content negotiation
if (req.accepts('xml')) {
  res.type('xml').send(xmlData);
} else {
  res.json(jsonData);
}

4. Easy Monitoring

Standard HTTP logs work perfectly:

GET /api/users - 200 OK - 45ms
POST /api/posts - 201 Created - 123ms
GET /api/posts/456 - 404 Not Found - 12ms

REST Challenges

1. Over-fetching

Getting more data than needed:

// Need only name, but get entire user object
GET /api/users/123
{
  "id": 123,
  "name": "Alice",
  "email": "alice@example.com",
  "address": { /* lots of data */ },
  "preferences": { /* lots of data */ },
  // ... many more fields
}

2. Under-fetching (N+1 Problem)

Multiple requests for related data:

// Get user
const user = await fetch('/api/users/123');

// Get user's posts (2nd request)
const posts = await fetch(`/api/users/${user.id}/posts`);

// Get each post's comments (N more requests)
for (const post of posts) {
  const comments = await fetch(`/api/posts/${post.id}/comments`);
}

3. API Versioning

Breaking changes require new versions:

// v1
GET /api/v1/users

// v2 with breaking changes
GET /api/v2/users

GraphQL: The Modern Alternative

GraphQL provides a query language for your API, allowing clients to request exactly what they need.

GraphQL Basics

# Schema definition
type User {
  id: ID!
  name: String!
  email: String!
  posts: [Post!]!
}

type Post {
  id: ID!
  title: String!
  content: String!
  author: User!
  comments: [Comment!]!
}

type Query {
  user(id: ID!): User
  posts: [Post!]!
}

# Client query
query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
    posts {
      title
      comments {
        content
        author {
          name
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

GraphQL Strengths

1. Precise Data Fetching

Request exactly what you need:

# Need only name and post titles
query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
    posts {
      title
    }
  }
}

2. Single Request for Related Data

No more N+1 problems:

# One request gets everything
query {
  users {
    name
    posts {
      title
      comments {
        content
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Strong Typing

Type safety built-in:

type User {
  id: ID!            # Required ID
  name: String!      # Required string
  age: Int           # Optional integer
  posts: [Post!]!    # Required array of Posts
}

4. Introspection

Self-documenting API:

query {
  __schema {
    types {
      name
      fields {
        name
        type {
          name
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

5. Evolution Without Versioning

Add fields without breaking changes:

type User {
  id: ID!
  name: String!
  # New field - old clients not affected
  email: String
}

GraphQL Challenges

1. Complexity

More setup and learning curve:

// Apollo Server setup
const typeDefs = gql`
  type Query {
    user(id: ID!): User
  }

  type User {
    id: ID!
    name: String!
    posts: [Post!]!
  }
`;

const resolvers = {
  Query: {
    user: (_, { id }) => db.users.findById(id),
  },
  User: {
    posts: (parent) => db.posts.findByUserId(parent.id),
  },
};

const server = new ApolloServer({ typeDefs, resolvers });

2. Caching Difficulties

Standard HTTP caching doesn't work:

// All GraphQL requests are POST to /graphql
POST /graphql
{
  "query": "{ user(id: 123) { name } }"
}

// How to cache this?

Solutions:

• Persisted queries
• Apollo Client cache
• DataLoader for batching

3. Query Complexity

Clients can create expensive queries:

# Potentially expensive query
query {
  users {
    posts {
      comments {
        author {
          posts {
            comments {
              author {
                # ... infinite nesting
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Solutions:

• Query depth limiting
• Query complexity analysis
• Rate limiting

4. File Uploads

Not part of GraphQL spec:

// Requires multipart upload handling
const { GraphQLUpload } = require('graphql-upload');

const typeDefs = gql`
  scalar Upload

  type Mutation {
    uploadFile(file: Upload!): File!
  }
`;

const resolvers = {
  Upload: GraphQLUpload,
  Mutation: {
    uploadFile: async (_, { file }) => {
      const { createReadStream, filename } = await file;
      // Process upload
    },
  },
};

Side-by-Side Comparison

Example: Blog Platform

REST Implementation:

// Get user
GET /api/users/123

// Get user's posts
GET /api/users/123/posts

// Get post details
GET /api/posts/456

// Get post comments
GET /api/posts/456/comments

// Create new post
POST /api/posts
{
  "title": "New Post",
  "content": "..."
}

GraphQL Implementation:

# Get user with posts and comments
query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
    posts {
      title
      content
      comments {
        content
        author {
          name
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

# Create new post
mutation {
  createPost(title: "New Post", content: "...") {
    id
    title
  }
}

Performance Comparison

REST:

• 4 HTTP requests
• ~200ms total (4 × 50ms)
• Over-fetching user data
• Under-fetching relationships

GraphQL:

• 1 HTTP request
• ~100ms total
• Exact data needed
• Potential N+1 on backend (use DataLoader)

DataLoader Pattern

Solve N+1 problems in GraphQL:

const DataLoader = require('dataloader');

// Create loader
const userLoader = new DataLoader(async (userIds) => {
  const users = await db.users.findByIds(userIds);
  return userIds.map(id => users.find(u => u.id === id));
});

// Use in resolvers
const resolvers = {
  Post: {
    author: (post) => userLoader.load(post.authorId),
  },
  Comment: {
    author: (comment) => userLoader.load(comment.authorId),
  },
};

// DataLoader batches and caches requests
// 100 posts with authors = 1 database query, not 100

REST + GraphQL: The Hybrid Approach

Use both where appropriate:

// REST for simple CRUD
app.get('/api/users/:id', getUser);
app.post('/api/users', createUser);

// GraphQL for complex queries
app.use('/graphql', graphqlHTTP({
  schema,
  graphiql: true,
}));

Real-World Adoption

Companies Using GraphQL

• GitHub: GraphQL API v4
• Facebook: Invented GraphQL
• Shopify: Primary API
• Twitter: Public GraphQL API
• Netflix: Internal data layer

Companies Using REST

• AWS: All services
• Stripe: Payment API
• Twilio: Communication APIs
• Google Maps: Mapping services

When to Use REST

Choose REST when:

✅ Simple CRUD operations

GET /api/products
POST /api/products
PUT /api/products/123
DELETE /api/products/123

✅ Public APIs with many clients

// Predictable endpoints
GET /api/v1/users
// Clear documentation

✅ File uploads/downloads

POST /api/upload (multipart/form-data)
GET /api/files/document.pdf

✅ HTTP caching is critical

GET /api/products (Cache-Control: max-age=3600)

✅ Existing REST infrastructure

// API gateway, CDN, etc.

When to Use GraphQL

Choose GraphQL when:

✅ Complex, nested data requirements

query {
  user {
    orders {
      items {
        product {
          category {
            name
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

✅ Mobile apps (reduce requests)

# One request for entire screen
query HomeScreen {
  currentUser { name }
  posts { title }
  notifications { count }
}

✅ Rapid frontend iteration

# Add fields without backend changes
query {
  user {
    name
    newField # Backend already has it
  }
}

✅ Multiple clients with different needs

# Mobile app
query { user { id name } }

# Web app
query { user { id name email address } }

✅ Real-time features (subscriptions)

subscription {
  messageAdded {
    content
    author {
      name
    }
  }
}

Practical Recommendations

Start with REST if:

• Building public API
• Team is unfamiliar with GraphQL
• Simple data requirements
• Need HTTP caching

Consider GraphQL if:

• Complex frontend data needs
• Building for multiple platforms
• Rapid product iteration
• Internal APIs with known clients

Use Both if:

• Large application with varied needs
• REST for public APIs
• GraphQL for internal/mobile clients

Migration Strategy

REST to GraphQL

// Wrap REST endpoints with GraphQL
const resolvers = {
  Query: {
    user: async (_, { id }) => {
      const response = await fetch(`/api/users/${id}`);
      return response.json();
    },
  },
};

// Gradually migrate to direct database access
const resolvers = {
  Query: {
    user: async (_, { id }) => {
      return db.users.findById(id);
    },
  },
};

Conclusion

Neither GraphQL nor REST is universally better. Your choice depends on:

• Team expertise
• Client requirements
• Data complexity
• Infrastructure
• Performance needs

REST remains excellent for simple, cacheable APIs. GraphQL shines with complex data needs and multiple clients.

The best API is one that serves your users efficiently and your team can maintain effectively.

What will you choose?