When building a web or mobile application, one of the most important choices a developer makes is how the frontend will talk to the backend. In simple words, how the app gets and sends data. Two popular ways to do this are GraphQL and REST. Both are widely used, but they work in different ways.
In 2025, developers are still debating which one is better. Some love the flexibility of GraphQL, while others stick with REST for its simplicity. As a full-stack developer, it’s important to understand both and know when to use which.
If you’re learning through full stack developer classes, this is a key topic that will help you understand real-world application design. In this blog, we will compare GraphQL and REST, look at their pros and cons, and help you decide which one fits best for your next project.
What is REST?
REST (Representational State Transfer) is an older and widely used method for building APIs. In REST, data is organized around resources, and each resource has a URL. For example:
- GET /users – to get a list of users
- GET /users/1 – to get details of user with ID 1
- POST /users – to create a new user
- PUT /users/1 – to update user with ID 1
- DELETE /users/1 – to delete user with ID 1
This makes REST easy to understand. Each API endpoint has one job, and developers know what to expect. REST works well for many apps, especially when the data structure is simple.
But REST can also be limited. Sometimes, you need to make multiple API calls to get all the data you need. This can slow down your app and make the code harder to manage.
What is GraphQL?
GraphQL is a newer way to build APIs. It was developed by Facebook and released in 2015. Instead of having multiple endpoints, GraphQL has just one endpoint. You send a query to that endpoint, and you get exactly the data you ask for.
For example, if you want a user’s name and email, your query will look like this:
{
user(id: 1) {
name
}
}
The server will return only the name and email, nothing more and nothing less.
This is one of the biggest advantages of GraphQL—it gives you full control over the data you get. You don’t need to over-fetch or under-fetch. This makes your app faster and reduces the amount of unnecessary data.
Because of these benefits, many companies and developers are now using GraphQL in their projects. If you’re studying in a full stack developer course in Hyderabad, learning GraphQL will open more opportunities for you, especially in companies that use modern tech stacks.
Comparing REST and GraphQL
Let’s look at how GraphQL and REST compare in different areas.
1. Data Fetching
- REST: May require multiple requests to get related data. For example, to get a user and their posts, you might call /users/1 and then /users/1/posts.
- GraphQL: You can fetch all related data in one query. You just ask for what you need, and the server sends it.
2. Performance
- REST: Can be slower if many API calls are needed.
- GraphQL: Faster because it reduces the number of requests and sends only needed data.
3. Flexibility
- REST: Data is fixed by the server. If you need more or less data, you may need to change the API.
- GraphQL: Very flexible. The client decides what data it wants.
4. Learning Curve
- REST: Easier for beginners. It follows a standard pattern and is widely supported.
- GraphQL: Takes more time to learn. You need to understand schemas, queries, and types.
5. Tooling and Support
- REST: Works with almost every backend and frontend tool.
- GraphQL: Has growing support, with tools like Apollo, GraphiQL, and Hasura.
When to Use REST
REST is a great choice in the following cases:
- Your data needs are simple.
- You already have a REST-based system.
- You want to build an API quickly.
- Your team is more experienced with REST.
For example, if you’re building a simple blog website, REST might be the easiest and fastest option.
When to Use GraphQL
GraphQL works best when:
- Your frontend needs different data for different screens.
- You want to reduce the number of requests.
- You are building a mobile app and want to save bandwidth.
- You have a complex app with many types of related data.
GraphQL is also very helpful when your app needs to work on slow internet, as it sends only what is required.
Real-World Examples
Let’s look at how some companies use GraphQL and REST.
- GitHub uses GraphQL for its API. Developers can ask for specific data and combine different requests into one.
- Twitter still uses REST because it has a well-defined structure and large ecosystem built on it.
- Shopify moved to GraphQL to improve performance for their admin dashboards and storefronts.
Many startups prefer GraphQL to give their users a faster experience. But REST is still trusted in large systems where stability is more important than flexibility.
Developer Experience
GraphQL also improves the developer experience. You can use tools such as GraphQL Playground to test your queries. You can explore the API without reading long documentation.
In REST, you often need to refer to docs to understand the endpoint and its response. While tools like Postman help with REST, they don’t offer the same smart features that GraphQL tools do.
In many full stack developer classes, students build projects using both GraphQL and REST to understand the difference. This hands-on experience helps in choosing the right tool for the right job.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Whether you’re using REST or GraphQL, here are some mistakes to avoid:
- Not validating user input – Always check what data users are sending.
- Overfetching – Don’t send more data than needed, especially in REST.
- Ignoring security – Protect your APIs with authentication and authorization.
- Poor error handling – Always return useful error messages.
Which One Should You Learn?
As a full-stack developer, it’s best to learn both GraphQL and REST. Many companies still use REST, and it’s not going away anytime soon. But GraphQL is growing fast, and knowing it will help you work on newer projects and better tools.
If you’re planning to join a full stack developer course in Hyderabad, check if it includes both REST and GraphQL. This will give you a complete view and prepare you for different types of jobs in the future.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, both GraphQL and REST are useful and important. They solve similar problems in different ways. REST is simple, solid, and works well for many apps. GraphQL is flexible, fast, and perfect for modern applications with complex data.
As a full-stack developer, your job is to choose the right tool for the job. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both GraphQL and REST, you can build better, smarter, and faster applications.
Learning these skills through developer classes will give you the confidence to work on real-world projects, solve real problems, and build apps that users love. So keep exploring, keep building, and stay updated with the best tools of the trade.
Contact Us:
Name: ExcelR – Full Stack Developer Course in Hyderabad
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