RapidAPI implemented GraphQL as its API gateway in a major redesign of its Marketplace, favoring it over REST due to GraphQL's ability to handle complex data structures efficiently and reduce multiple round trips to the server. This shift was driven by the need to manage RapidAPI’s intricate data schema, which includes numerous nested objects and requires data from multiple microservices, making GraphQL’s single endpoint and flexible data retrieval particularly beneficial. Despite recognizing that GraphQL is not a universal solution, RapidAPI found it provided a more streamlined and efficient user experience, aligning with their modular NodeJS backend structure and allowing API clients to be less dependent on server-defined data structures. The decision reflects a broader trend across companies like Facebook, Airbnb, and the New York Times, who have adopted GraphQL for similar efficiencies in handling complex data needs.