LESSON 3.1
REST and GraphQL trade-offs
Learn key techniques and workflows in System Design Foundations.
5m
intermediate
10,184 students
Overview
REST gives you cacheable, predictable endpoints; GraphQL gives clients exactly the data they asked for. The trade is caching and complexity.
In this lesson you will:
- Compare fixed endpoints against flexible queries
- Weigh caching behaviour on each side
- Version an API without breaking existing clients
Pro Tip
Use caching and revalidation wisely to ensure your app stays fast and data remains fresh without unnecessary requests.