Lightweight APIs: REST, GraphQL, and Beyond
APIs let apps talk to each other. When a design stays lightweight, teams move faster and users feel the difference in performance. This post compares REST, GraphQL, and a few practical alternatives, with tips to choose what fits your project.
REST remains the everyday choice. It works with resources, HTTP verbs, and standard status codes. It plays well with caching, simple tooling, and clear documentation. A typical REST call looks like GET /users/42, returning JSON like { “id”: 42, “name”: “Alex” }. For writes you use POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE, guided by resource paths. REST shines when the API is stable, the data shape is predictable, and clients are varied.
GraphQL offers control to the client. A single endpoint can serve many resources, and clients ask for exactly the fields they need. This reduces overfetch and round trips, but it adds complexity in the schema, caching strategy, and error handling. A sample query is: query { user(id: 42) { id name posts { id title } } }. Server responses follow the requested shape, which can simplify front-end data management.
Beyond these two, other patterns fit different goals. gRPC uses a fast binary protocol for inter-service calls and supports streaming. JSON:API and OData provide standardized data shapes for complex resources. For TypeScript-heavy projects, tRPC can share types across client and server, cutting boilerplate. Each approach carries trade-offs in tooling, visibility, and learning curve.
Choosing wisely means matching data needs, client devices, and team strengths. REST may win for broad compatibility; GraphQL can reduce fetch overhead in dashboards; gRPC helps microservices talk fast. Start small, with a clear, maintainable design, then evolve as needs grow.
Key Takeaways
- REST, GraphQL, and beyond each have strengths; choose by data patterns and team skills.
- Start with clear data needs, use pagination, and document decisions.
- Plan for caching, observability, and consistent security across patterns.