What is GraphQL and how is it different from REST?

GraphQL is a data query language and runtime designed and used at Facebook to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps since 2012. It got open-sourced in 2015. It is the successor of REST. It is used by companies like Microsoft, Paypal, Shopify, Shure. Whereas REST typically requires multiple round-trips for even simple requests and the content is distributed across dozens of API endpoints, GraphQL needs only one round-trip for even complex requests and projects have one single endpoint to version, secure and maintain. Further downsides of REST: content structure change requests increase cross-department effort; frequent delivery of unnecessary data; weakly typed; requires manual API documentation; content structure change requests increase cross-department effort. Find out more on our GraphQL landing page: https://graphcms.com/concepts/graphql/