Should I use GraphQL or REST?

REST for: simple APIs, wide ecosystem compatibility, easy caching. GraphQL for: complex data relationships, mobile apps needing efficiency, rapidly evolving frontends. Many organisations use both.

Is GraphQL replacing REST?

No, they coexist. GraphQL adds flexibility but increases complexity. Most public APIs remain REST. GraphQL shines for internal APIs and complex client needs. Choose based on use case.

How do I prevent expensive GraphQL queries?

Query complexity analysis, depth limiting, rate limiting, query cost calculation, persisted queries, and timeout limits. Without controls, clients can request too much data.

What tools support GraphQL?

Servers: Apollo Server, Hasura, GraphQL Yoga. Clients: Apollo Client, urql, Relay. Testing: GraphQL Playground, Insomnia. Most languages have GraphQL libraries.

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GraphQL

A query language for APIs that lets clients request exactly the data they need. Alternative to REST that reduces over-fetching and enables flexible data retrieval.

In-Depth Explanation

GraphQL is a query language and runtime for APIs developed by Facebook. Unlike REST's fixed endpoints, GraphQL lets clients specify exactly what data they need in a single request.

GraphQL key concepts:

Schema: Defines available data types and operations
Queries: Read data (like GET)
Mutations: Write data (like POST/PUT/DELETE)
Subscriptions: Real-time updates
Resolvers: Functions that fetch data

GraphQL advantages:

Request exactly the data needed
Single endpoint for all operations
Strongly typed schema
Introspection (self-documenting)
Reduce multiple round trips

GraphQL considerations:

More complex server implementation
Caching is harder than REST
Learning curve for teams
Potential for expensive queries
Overhead for simple APIs

Business Context

GraphQL excels for complex data needs with multiple related entities. Increasingly popular for mobile apps and dashboards where bandwidth and flexibility matter.

How Clever Ops Uses This

We recommend GraphQL for Australian businesses building complex applications with varied data needs, especially mobile-first or dashboard-heavy products.

Example Use Case

"A mobile app fetching user profile, recent orders, and recommendations in one request instead of three separate REST calls."

Frequently Asked Questions

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