Web basics

GraphQL

An API style where the client asks for exactly the data it wants in one request.

GraphQL is an alternative to REST where, instead of hitting many endpoints, you send one query describing precisely the fields you need and get back exactly that — no more, no less. Picture ordering a custom plate ('just the fields I asked for') versus REST's fixed set-menu combos. It shines when a screen needs data stitched from many sources, but it adds setup complexity, so for most small projects a plain REST API is the faster path — reach for GraphQL when over-fetching or too many round-trips actually becomes your problem.