A fact-checking analysis of 18 commonly repeated claims about GraphQL vs REST, traced back to primary sources including peer-reviewed studies, official documentation, and security reports. Key findings: GraphQL was not built for microservices (Facebook ran a PHP monolith); the N+1 problem exists in both REST and GraphQL but at
Table of contents
DisclaimerSummaryThe Origin Story: How Facebook Actually Built GraphQLThe GraphQL N+1 Problem: Does REST Have It Too?GraphQL vs REST Performance: What Benchmarks Actually ShowGraphQL Caching vs REST Caching: The Real TradeoffsIs GraphQL Less Secure Than REST?HTTP Behavior and Error HandlingAdoption and ToolingPart II: What the Evidence MeansWhere REST Genuinely WinsWhere GraphQL Genuinely WinsGraphQL Federation Changes the Question EntirelyAI Agents Need Structured, Self-Describing APIsThe Right Question Is Not Which One WinsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)1 Comment
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