Compare REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC

REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC

API style is a product and operational decision: clients, latency, caching, and contracts all matter.

Pick the right API style

Click a column header for “when to use” guidance

Feature
REST
GraphQL
gRPC
Contract
How requests/responses are described
OpenAPI (optional)Schema (required)Protobuf (required)
Transport
What runs on the wire
HTTP/1.1+HTTPHTTP/2
Caching
Where caching is easiest
HTTP cachingApp/gateway cachingApp/gateway caching
Streaming
Real-time / incremental responses
Limited (varies)Subscriptions (varies)Built-in (streams)
Best fit
Typical sweet spot
Public APIsProduct UIsInternal services

Click on a column header to see when to use each option

References