GraphQL vs REST – Backend Engineer’s View

Published: May 2025

GraphQL offers flexibility, but REST is still widely adopted. Let’s look at strengths and trade-offs.

REST

Stateless, simple, uses HTTP verbs. Best for simple CRUD APIs and backward compatibility.

GraphQL

Query exactly what you need. Great for frontend flexibility, but more complex tooling.

My Experience

I use GraphQL for client-heavy apps. REST for integrations and enterprise backends.