GraphQL is quickly replacing REST as the standard for which data is queried, fetched and transformed between the frontend and backend. It offers numerous benefits such as querying many resources in one request, new generation of ergonomic developer tools, improved performance especially on slow network connections, and reduced payload size and less round trips to the server. To integrate GraphQL into your product architecture, it's recommended to deploy it as a layer between your apps and existing APIs. GraphQL isn't about throwing away existing infrastructure but leveraging it to the fullest. A simple example of layering GraphQL over an existing REST API is demonstrated using Apollo Server, which provides built-in support for GraphQL subscriptions, powerful error handling tools, schema stitching, file uploads, mocking, schema directives, and easy monitoring integration.