The debate between GraphQL and REST is one of the hottest topics in backend development. REST has been the standard for decades, offering simplicity and cacheability. GraphQL, a newer challenger from Facebook, offers flexibility and efficiency. Which one should you choose?
DevKit SIO
January 18, 2026
REST is great for resource-oriented architectures with simple data requirements. It leverages standard HTTP methods and caching, making it robust and easy to understand. We use it for most public-facing APIs in our integration projects.
The Case for GraphQL
GraphQL shines when you have complex, nested data requirements. It solves the 'over-fetching' and 'under-fetching' problems by allowing the client to request exactly the data it needs. This reduces network usage, crucial for mobile apps.
However, GraphQL prevents simple HTTP caching and adds complexity to the backend. It's often the best choice for internal APIs powering complex frontends built by our web team.
Conclusion
There is no winner, only trade-offs. Choose the tool that fits your specific problem domain. Need help architecting your API? Consult our API Strategy experts.