4.rest-api-graphql-wshp.md

REST API and GraphQL - An Overview

We discussed the REST API, GraphQL, and their usage. A recording of the session demonstrations is available here.

REST API

Representational State Transfer is a software architectural style that defines a set of constraints to be used for creating Web services.

It is abundantly used in web applications for data retrieval, insertion, manipulation, and deletion.

Below are the 4 request-types we discussed:

1. GET
   • Used to retrieve data.
   • The request body doesn't have significance, but the endpoint does.
2. POST
   • Used to insert data.
   • Both request body and the endpoint are significant.
3. PUT
   • Used to update data.
   • Both request body and the endpoint are significant.
4. DELETE
   • Used to delete data.
   • The request body doesn't have significance, but the endpoint does.

GraphQL

The limitations of the REST API are:

• We are victim to overfetching. We can't selectively choose which properties to retrieve, unless we are using extensive non-standard techniques.
• GET and DELETE requests don't use any data provided in the request body.

To overcome these, and possibly several other limitations, GraphQL was born.

Exercises

Use the below-mentioned tools to try out the REST API and GraphQL:

• REST API Playground by Param.
• GraphQL Playground by Ritesh.

Made with ❤ by Param.