GraphQL, introduced by Facebook, has emerged as a popular alternative to REST APIs by addressing some of the limitations inherent in RESTful architecture, such as server-driven data representation and the inefficiency of fetching multiple resources. While REST APIs are known for their simplicity and adherence to HTTP conventions, which enable loose coupling and ease of use, GraphQL offers a more flexible query structure that allows clients to request only the data they need, potentially reducing the number of API calls. However, GraphQL also presents challenges, including complexities in caching, potential performance issues due to arbitrary queries, and limited monitoring tools compared to RESTful APIs. Although GraphQL can be advantageous for applications with complex domain models, it may not be suitable for APIs with simpler data needs. Companies like Moesif offer analytics platforms to help manage both REST and GraphQL APIs, but careful consideration of these trade-offs is necessary before choosing the appropriate API architecture for a given application.