Magento 2 GraphQL vs REST API: Ultimate Comparison

Vishal Lakhani

Vishal Lakhani, Founder and CTO of Rock Technolabs, brings over a decade of expertise in eCommerce development and Magento solutions. As a Magento Certified Developer, Vishal combines his technical know-how with a commitment to innovation, delivering high-quality results. Beyond his technical competency, Vishal is a passionate blogger who prioritizes quality content over quantity. Apart from blogging and playing with Magento, he enjoys reading, traveling, and learning something new every day.

Choosing the best API is the key to the success of an e-commerce store.

If you want a platform for your business needs, choose an API solution that can give the best shape to your business in the long run.

API plays an important role in the success of any digital platform.

Whenever an API is needed, there are many choices, but you need to choose one that suits your needs perfectly.

Here, we kickstart the battle between the best tech stack, GraphQL vs. Rest API, to transform your online store.

A Magento 2 GraphQL vs REST API analysis helps you choose the right one for your store.

GraphQL offers flexibility and precision, while REST provides simplicity and widespread compatibility.

These technologies work by sending HTTP requests and receiving the output. Although they are different, both can be used to develop and scale any API.

This article covers key differences between GraphQL and REST API for Magento stores.

What is REST?

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style that conforms to a set of constraints when developing web services. It was introduced as a successor to SOAP APIs.

REST, or RESTful APs, are Web Service APIs that follow the REST standards.

Unlike SOAP, a REST API is not constrained to an XML format and can return multiple data formats depending on what is needed.

The data formats supported by REST API include JSON, XML, and YAML.

When a client calls REST APIs the server transfers the resources in a standardized representation.

They work by returning information about the source that was requested – and is translated into an interpretable format.

What are the Features of REST API?

REST API is designed to work with media components and files because of the many features that it comes with.

Here are some of the features of REST API:

It has a uniform interface making it easy for developers.
REST services can be scaled with the demand and needs of the project.
Users can access resources in REST conveniently using the name.
It helps in storing frequently used information in the memory.
It can be served from multiple servers.
With simple patterns, it can quickly map with an API endpoint.

What is GraphQL?

GraphQL is an open-source data query and manipulation language for APIs. It’s a runtime for fulfilling queries with existing data.

Maintained and developed primarily via the GraphQL Foundation, GraphQL has incredible adoption across a variety of verticals and use cases with organizations like Twitter, Expedia, Shopify, and Hygraph.

What are the Features of GraphQL?

GraphQL has many features, making it one of the most used query languages for API development.

Here are some key features:

GraphQL is a statically typed language and there is no need to define variables when using this.
There is no feature for over-fetching or under-fetching of data in this.
It can decouple the front end from the back end.
You can save bandwidth with the help of this query language.
Documentation is easy and it comes with no additional cost.
This language is HTTP-independent.

GraphQL and REST API: Table-Wise Comparison

The table outlines just a glimpse of key differences.

Aspect	GraphQL	REST API
Data Structure	Gets data from a nested structure. The only fields returned are those requested. This is ideal for dynamic queries.	Predefined endpoints are associated with fixed structures. A complete dataset is delivered. It is easy to use for retrieving data.
Request Efficiency	Get all the data in one request. This saves money by reducing server calls, time, and resources.	Obtaining related data may require multiple requests. Server overhead increases. Fetching linked information requires more effort.
Payload Size	It reduces response size by returning only requested fields. It maintains clean, efficient data and avoids unnecessary transfers.	It sends the whole dataset, even unused fields. Larger payloads result. Processes take longer.
Flexibility	Allows for customized queries based on needs. Provides support for flexible data formats. Suitable for modern apps.	Data formats must follow predefined conventions. Customization is less flexible. Suitable for standard use cases.
Complex Data Handling	Easily manages complex and interconnected data. Manages data more efficiently. Suitable for apps that have nested relationships.	Multiple calls are required to access related data. Large datasets increase complexity. Complex queries are less efficient.

Besides a glance, below are detailed differences between each aspect to give you clarity on choosing the ideal API for an e-commerce store:

Schema enforced

With GraphQL, schemas are enforced regardless of whether developers use schema-first or code-first development approaches.

When code-first is used, resolvers produce the schema.

REST does not require a schema to be used.

Although REST provides API specifications like OpenAPI and AsyncAPI that allow developers to construct schemas as needed and automatically generate schemas, schemas are not part of the REST architecture.

Popularity

The GraphQL protocol was released by Facebook in 2015. As a result of its rapid growth since then, the platform has gained a great deal of popularity.

API report indicates that 29% of developers use GraphQL.

REST is a popular standard for building APIs, especially public ones, and has been widely adopted for several decades.

It is reported that 90% of developers use REST APIs.

Functionality

GraphQL and REST API functionality differ completely, most notably in predictability and edition.

Predictability is GraphQL’s strongest attribute. With GraphQL, you can easily make a request to your API and expect the same response, removing any redundant information.

The results of its queries are predictable, which increases the program’s functionality.

On the other hand, REST APIs behave differently based on their URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) and HTTP protocol.

As a result, API clients have difficulty understanding how new endpoints will work.

Performance

With GraphQL, clients can query data more efficiently since it offers great flexibility. Data can be requested and received exactly as clients need it- and nothing else.

This eliminates the need to transmit unnecessary data and reduces the number of requests clients have to send.

Depending on how the API was built, there is a risk of over- or under-fetching data when using REST APIS.

Clients may need to make multiple requests to obtain data.

Introspection

With GraphQL, clients can easily access schema details by introspection.

Performing an introspection allows developers to create automated queries and documentation and explore mutations and subscriptions.

REST APIS usually do not include built-in support for introspection.

While API specifications such as OpenAPI and AsyncAPI make introspection possible, they do not provide the same benefits as GraphQL schemas.

Recommended Reading: Magento Community vs. Enterprise Edition

GraphQL vs REST API: Which One Is Better?

When GraphQL vs Rest API is compared, the answer is entirely subjective and is largely determined by the type of project.

Graphql is the best option for using a modern design style that eliminates the need to collect multiple rounds of data.

In any case, if you prefer a tried-and-true technology with robust caching, REST API is the best choice.

GraphQL and REST API: FAQs

Is it possible to cache data using GraphQL and REST APIs?

A REST API caches data using HTTP headers on the backend.

Client-side or server-side caching is available for GraphQL APIs.

Proper caching improves performance, especially for repetitive requests to the front end.

Data is exchanged using JSON in both methods.

How is GraphQL better than REST for API development?

GraphQL simplifies API development by providing a defined schema.

Data queries are consolidated through a single server, and compared to REST APIs, GraphQL is better suited to dealing with complex client interactions.

Conclusion

The Magento 2 GraphQL API and the REST API offer distinct benefits depending on the project’s needs.

REST APIS have different HTTP methods and endpoints. They also support JSON, XML, and YAML data formats.

However, they may be prone to issues such as over-fetching and requiring multiple network connections.

GraphQL addresses these problems by allowing clients to request only the information they require, thereby reducing the amount of data requested.

Strongly typed systems are defined in schemas, capable of merging multiple schemas into a single schema, and capable of real-time updates, which makes development more efficient and faster.

If your project requires REST, GraphQL, or a combination of both, it should be chosen based on its specific needs and your team’s experience.