REST API vs GraphQL: which one to use when

REST and GraphQL are two distinct approaches for designing APIs, each with its own advantages and trade-offs. REST APIs use fixed endpoints associated with unique URLs and standard HTTP methods, offering simplicity and natural caching capabilities, which are enhanced by extensive tooling support from tools like OpenAPI. On the other hand, GraphQL provides a single endpoint where clients can specify exactly what data they need, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching issues while offering precision in data retrieval, particularly beneficial for mobile clients or complex user interfaces. While REST is favored for its broad compatibility and is widely used in public APIs, GraphQL is more suited for scenarios requiring complex nested data exchanges where control over both client and server exists. Despite REST's mature tooling ecosystem, GraphQL's newer tooling is robust but requires different considerations for rate limiting, as it is based on query complexity rather than endpoints. CodeWords workflows interact seamlessly with both REST and GraphQL through over 500 integrations, providing automated handling of REST API challenges like authentication and pagination.

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