When GraphQL is the better fit
GraphQL earns its place when your screens need varied, nested data and REST would mean many round trips or one-size-fits-none endpoints. Clients request precisely the fields they want, and the server returns just that, no more stitching three calls together on a slow mobile connection.
It isn't automatically better than REST. We'll tell you honestly when a couple of REST endpoints would serve you just as well, and when a graph genuinely pays off.
- A single typed schema clients query for exactly what they need
- One request for nested, related data instead of several round trips
- Strong typing that catches client mistakes at build time
- Introspection and a playground for self-service exploration
- Honest guidance on where REST would be simpler for you
The parts that make GraphQL safe in production
GraphQL's flexibility is also its risk: an unbounded query can hammer your database. We build the guardrails that keep a public or busy graph healthy, from query cost limits to batching that prevents the classic N+1 problem, with authorization enforced at the field level.
- Query depth and cost limits to prevent expensive requests
- DataLoader-style batching to kill N+1 database queries
- Field-level authorization, not just endpoint-level
- Persisted queries or allow-lists for public-facing graphs
- A caching strategy suited to GraphQL's single endpoint
Schema-first and maintainable
We design the schema as the contract first, then implement resolvers against your data sources, which can include your database and your existing REST or third-party APIs behind the graph. The schema becomes shared documentation your front-end and back-end teams agree on.
- Schema-first design as the shared front-end and back-end contract
- Resolvers over your database and existing or third-party APIs
- Subscriptions for real-time updates where you need them
- Generated types for TypeScript and other typed clients
- Tests and a versioning approach that avoids breaking clients
More on apis & integrations
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to throw away our REST API to adopt GraphQL?
No. GraphQL can sit in front of existing REST endpoints and databases, so you can adopt it incrementally, starting with the screens that hurt most and leaving the rest on REST. Some teams keep both long-term. We'll plan a path that doesn't require a big-bang rewrite.
Is GraphQL overkill for a small app?
Often, yes, and we'll say so. If your app has a handful of simple, stable data needs, REST is usually less to build and operate. GraphQL pays off with many clients, complex nested data, or fast-changing front-end needs. We'd rather steer you to the right tool than sell the trendier one.
How is a GraphQL project priced?
The drivers are the size of the schema, how many data sources sit behind it, the authorization rules, and whether real-time subscriptions are in scope. We scope it after a free consultation once we understand your data and clients.