Website API Integration Basics: From REST to GraphQL

APIs are the backbone of modern websites. Frontends fetch data, submit forms, and integrate third-party services through APIs.

RESTful API Basics

  • Resource-oriented URLs (/api/users, /api/articles)
  • HTTP method semantics: GET/read, POST/create, PUT/update, DELETE/delete
  • Stateless: each request contains all needed info

GraphQL Basics

GraphQL lets clients specify exactly what data they need, solving over-fetching and under-fetching issues.

16IDC Takeaway

For most small-to-medium sites, RESTful APIs are the most practical choice. GraphQL suits complex data structures with flexible query needs. Start with REST and consider GraphQL when over-fetching or multiple-request problems arise.