When to Use GraphQL, gRPC, and REST: A Simple Guide

source: pradeepl.com

Introduction

Today, when building applications that need to talk to each other, developers have three main choices: REST, GraphQL, and gRPC. Each one has its own good points and not-so-good points. In this article, we’ll look at when to use each one, using simple examples to help you understand better.

Understanding REST

REST is the oldest and most common way for applications to communicate. Think of REST like a restaurant menu — you have fixed items (endpoints) that you can order from.

When to Use REST

REST works best when you:

• Need something simple and easy to understand
• Want to build regular web applications
• Need good browser support
• Want to use basic HTTP features like caching

Example of REST

Let’s say you’re building a book store application. Here’s how REST endpoints might look:

// Get all books
GET /api/books

// Get a specific book
GET /api/books/123

// Add a new book
POST /api/books
{
  "title": "The Great Book",
  "author": "John Smith",
  "price": 19.99
}

// Update a book
PUT /api/books/123
{
  "price": 24.99
}