1. What is GraphQL?
GraphQL is an open-source data query manipulation language intended for developing APIs.
- Provides an easy-to-understand data structure.
- Determine what you need or no need when you request.
- With many developer tools and easier upgrades in the future.
2. Major advantages of GraphQL
- One of the best solutions for microservices and complex systems.
- Using Hierarchical Structure.
- Way faster than other communication APIs.
- Easy to learn, use, and explore an API quickly.
- It only has a single endpoint.
- Fetching only the exact and specific data in a single request.
3. Language support
GraphQL supports many popular current programming languages such as:
- JavaScript
- Python
- C# / .NET
- Go
- PHP
- Ruby
- Java / Kotlin
- Rust
- Swift / Objective-C
- Elixir
- Scala
- Flutter
4. Some compare between GraphQL and Rest API
Data access
- Rest API: multiple endpoints.
- GraphQL: has a single URL endpoint.
Response data
- Rest API: the server fixes the Rest API structure response data.
- GraphQL: the client fixes GraphQL structure response data.
Best suited
- Rest API: suitable with simple data sources where resources are well-defined.
- GraphQL: suitable with large, complex, and interrelated data sources.
Validate error
- Rest API: check and return in client if the returned data is valid.
- GraphQL: the schema structure will reject the invalid data.
Here’s an example of how a REST API and a GraphQL API would handle a request for a user’s name, email, and phone number:
|
Rest API |
GraphQL |
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|---|---|---|---|
|
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In the below example, I just want to get information on name, email, and phone number.
- The REST API returns a fixed data structure that includes: name, email, phone number, and many other information.
- The GraphQL API, on the other hand, allows you to specify exactly what data you need, so it will return the correct data you.
specified (name, email, phone)
[Reference Source]
- https://graphql.org/
- https://medium.com/swlh/a-quick-intro-to-graphql-1c6e651562c8
- https://www.javatpoint.com/graphql-advantages-and-disadvantages
- https://aws.amazon.com/compare/the-difference-between-graphql-and-rest
- https://dev.to/callebdev/understanding-graphql-and-its-design-principles-fd6