GraphQL is a query language for APIs and a server-side execution environment for handling these queries. It enables clients to retrieve the exact data structures they need as needed.
Compared to REST, the main differences include:
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Data Retrieval:
- GraphQL: Allows clients to specify exactly which data they need, thereby avoiding over-fetching or under-fetching.
- REST: Clients retrieve data from a predefined resource defined by a URL, typically receiving a fixed data structure. This can result in over-fetching or necessitate multiple requests to aggregate the required data.
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Request Efficiency:
- GraphQL: Typically retrieves all required data in a single request, reducing the number of network round trips.
- REST: May require multiple requests to collect and integrate the information needed by the client, especially when resources have multi-layered relationships.
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Version Management:
- GraphQL: Supports new features by simply adding new fields and types without breaking existing queries.
- REST: Typically manages different API versions through new endpoints or version numbers, which may lead to maintenance issues with older versions.
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Type System:
- GraphQL: Provides a strongly typed system where all exchanged data conforms to a strictly defined schema.
- REST: Lacks a strict type system, though API structures can be defined using tools like Swagger or RAML.
Overall, GraphQL offers higher flexibility and efficiency, especially when dealing with complex and frequently changing data requirements.