REST vs GraphQL
REST is the simple, cacheable default that suits most APIs. GraphQL wins when clients need flexible, precise data-fetching across many related resources — common in rich frontends and mobile apps with varied data needs.
| Criterion | REST | GraphQL |
|---|---|---|
| Simplicity | Simple, well understood | More moving parts |
| Over/under-fetching | Common | Client asks for exactly what it needs |
| Caching | Easy (HTTP caching) | Harder |
| Many related resources | Multiple round-trips | One flexible query |
| Tooling maturity | Ubiquitous | Strong, growing |
| Evolving client needs | Versioned endpoints | Schema evolves gracefully |
| Simple CRUD API | Ideal | Overhead |
Choose REST when
Straightforward APIs, public APIs, and anywhere HTTP caching and simplicity matter most.
Choose GraphQL when
Rich frontends/mobile apps with diverse data needs, many related entities, and rapidly evolving client requirements.
The verdict
Default to REST for its simplicity and caching; reach for GraphQL when clients genuinely need flexible, precise fetching across a complex graph of data. Lazlo picks per project — and sometimes uses both.