BackendMay 28, 2026Johandri Suarez
Why I Switched from REST to GraphQL
A practical comparison of REST and GraphQL APIs, with real examples of when each approach makes sense for your project.
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After years working with REST, I decided to experiment with GraphQL in a real project. Here I share my honest findings.
The Problem with REST
REST works well for simple APIs, but as your application grows, you start facing problems:
- **Over-fetching**: You get more data than you need
- **Under-fetching**: You need multiple requests to get all the information
- **Versioning**: Maintaining /api/v1, /api/v2 becomes a nightmare
The GraphQL Solution
GraphQL solves these problems with a typed schema and a query language:
- The client asks for exactly what it needs
- A single request gets all related data
- No versioning, only deprecated fields
When to Use Each
Use REST when:
- Your API is simple and static
- You have implicit HTTP caching
- The team is new to APIs
Use GraphQL when:
- Your application has complex data relationships
- Multiple clients need different data structures
- You want a superior developer experience
My Experience
In my project, GraphQL reduced HTTP requests by 60% and significantly improved the development experience. The schema as a contract between frontend and backend is revolutionary.