REST is here to stay.
There’s been a lot of hype recently about REST APIs dying, being replaced by the likes of GraphQL. I’m here to say REST APIs are not going anywhere. In fact, they are only going to become more popular.
REST is a tried and true API design paradigm that has been around for over a decade. It’s been battle tested and is proven to work. REST is simple, scalable, and efficient. It’s perfect for exposing public APIs.
GraphQL is a newer API design paradigm that is gaining popularity. It’s a more sophisticated API design that can be used to replace REST APIs. It has a lot of benefits over REST, but it’s also more complex and requires more development effort. For this reason, I don’t see GraphQL replacing REST anytime soon.
REST will continue to be the most popular API design paradigm for public APIs. However, I’m not naive, it’s probable that GraphQL will eventually overtake REST for private APIs.
The main advantages of REST APIs include:
- Simplicity — REST APIs are simple to understand and use.
- Scalability — REST APIs are scalable and can handle large amounts of traffic.
- Efficiency — REST APIs can be very efficient and use less bandwidth than other API designs.
On the other hand, the main advantages of GraphQL APIs include:
- More Sophisticated — GraphQL APIs are more sophisticated than REST APIs and can do things that REST APIs can’t.
- Focused on Queries — GraphQL APIs are focused on queries and allow for more flexibility when retrieving data.
- Easier to Use (for certain use cases) — GraphQL APIs are easier to use than REST APIs, especially for complex data requests.
In the end, it’s up to you which API design you choose. If you’re looking for a simple, scalable, and efficient API, then REST is the way to go. If you need more flexibility or want to focus on queries, then GraphQL is a better choice.
What do you think? Will REST continue to be the most popular API design paradigm? Or will GraphQL eventually overtake it? Let me know in the comments!
