Mixing API styles
In complex systems, using multiple API styles within a single architecture is often required to meet varying functional and non-functional requirements. Each API style has strengths suited to different scenarios, and it’s often necessary to combine them to achieve the best results. Depending on the system’s needs, you might not rely on just one API style but instead choose multiple styles that complement each other. This approach ensures flexibility, scalability, and efficiency.
For example, a web application might require the following:
- REST for general resource management, such as CRUD operations, where clients need structured and standardized access to resources
- GraphQL for customizable data retrieval, especially when clients need specific subsets of data without over-fetching
- Webhooks to notify third-party services asynchronously when events occur, such as order fulfillment and shipment status updates
By leveraging...
