Http

Overview REST and GraphQL are both HTTP-based API paradigms that differ fundamentally in how clients request data. REST exposes multiple URLs with server-defined response shapes; GraphQL exposes a single endpoint where the client’s query body dictates exactly which fields and relationships to return. The distinction drives decisions around over-fetching, N+1 latency, HTTP cacheability, and schema contracts. Comparison Diagram RESTmultiple endpoints, fixed shapeClientGET /usersGET /postsGET /comments3 requestsEach response = full object:{ id, name, email, avatarUrl, createdAt, role, prefs }only name+email needed → over-fetchRelated data → N+1 round-tripsBreaking change → new URL, e.g. /v2/GET · cacheable · status codesGraphQLone endpoint, client-declared shapeClientPOST /graphql1 requestquery (client-authored)query { user(id: 1) { name email } posts { title }}SDL schema (server)type User { name: String! email: String posts: [Post]}Response: exactly what was declared{ user: { name, email }, posts: [{ title }] }Schema evolves via @deprecated, no versioningPOST · typed schema · introspectable Comparison Table Aspect REST GraphQL Endpoints One URL per resource type — GET /users, POST /orders, etc. Single URL (POST /graphql); resource selection is in the query body Response shape Fixed by the server; client receives all fields the endpoint defines Declared by the client per query; only the requested fields are returned Over/under-fetching Chronic: server returns full objects; client discards unused fields or must make extra requests for missing ones Eliminated by design: resolvers return only fields the query specifies HTTP caching Native: GET responses cache at CDN and browser level by URL + headers Non-trivial: queries are POST bodies; requires persisted queries or APQ for cache-key stability Type system Optional — enforced only if you add OpenAPI/JSON Schema; not validated at runtime by default Mandatory SDL schema; all queries are parsed and validated against it before execution Versioning Breaking changes typically require new URL paths (/v1/, /v2/) or custom Accept headers Additive schema evolution with @deprecated directives; a single endpoint surface stays stable Error handling HTTP status codes carry semantic meaning: 200, 404, 422, 500, etc. Always 200 OK; errors surface in an errors[] array alongside any partial data Introspection / discoverability Requires an external spec (OpenAPI/Swagger); not built into the protocol Built-in: query __schema or __type to get the full type graph at runtime Key Differences REST has one endpoint per resource; GraphQL has one endpoint for the entire API, and the query body — not the URL — determines what data comes back. REST responses return all server-defined fields for a resource (over-fetch), and fetching related data requires additional round-trips (N+1 problem). A single GraphQL query can traverse multiple types and return exactly the fields requested. REST uses standard HTTP verbs and status codes, making GET-based CDN and browser caching trivially available. GraphQL queries travel as POST bodies, breaking HTTP cache semantics by default and requiring explicit workarounds. GraphQL’s SDL provides a mandatory, introspectable type contract enforced at parse time. REST type contracts are optional add-ons (OpenAPI); the server can return anything without violating the protocol. REST breaking changes typically force a new URL version (/v2/); GraphQL prefers additive schema evolution with @deprecated, keeping a single endpoint surface over the API’s lifetime. When to Use Each REST ...

Overview HTTP and HTTPS are the same application-layer protocol for transferring web resources, but HTTPS wraps every request and response in a TLS tunnel before it touches the network. That single layer determines whether credentials, cookies, and page content travel as plaintext visible to anyone on the path, or as ciphertext only the two endpoints can read. Comparison Diagram HTTPClientServerGET /login?pwd=hunter2visible to anyone on pathHTTPSClientServerx8f#9a2$qL0e...TLS-encrypted, tamper-evident Comparison Table Aspect HTTP HTTPS Default port 80 443 Connection establishment Single TCP three-way handshake TCP handshake plus a TLS handshake to negotiate cipher and exchange keys Certificate requirement None X.509 certificate issued by a trusted CA (or self-signed) required Data encryption Plaintext — headers, cookies, and body sent unencrypted Encrypted end-to-end using TLS/SSL symmetric ciphers Data integrity No built-in tamper detection MAC/AEAD in TLS detects in-transit tampering Browser indicator “Not secure” warning in modern browsers Padlock icon; no warning shown Performance overhead Lower — no crypto or extra round trip Slightly higher handshake/CPU cost, largely offset by TLS 1.3 and session resumption Typical use case Local development, internal tools on trusted networks, legacy static content Any production site, especially logins, payments, and APIs handling sensitive data Key Differences HTTPS is HTTP tunneled through TLS, not a separate application protocol HTTP traffic is readable in plaintext by anyone with network access; HTTPS traffic is encrypted HTTPS requires a valid certificate from a trusted CA to establish trust Modern browsers flag HTTP sites as not secure, pushing HTTPS as the default TLS 1.3 has shrunk the historical HTTPS handshake cost to near parity with plain TCP When to Use Each HTTP ...