GraphQL vs REST: Choosing the Right API Style Picture this: you're building a mobile app that needs to display a user's profile with their latest posts, follower count, and notification preferences. With REST, you might need three separate API calls, downloading unnecessary data with each request. With GraphQL, you could fetch exactly what you need in a single query. But here's the catch: GraphQL isn't always the better choice. As a senior engineer, I've seen teams rush to adopt GraphQL because it's the "modern" approach, only to struggle with caching complexities and tooling overhead. I've also seen teams stick with REST when GraphQL would have solved their over-fetching nightmares. The truth is, both approaches have their place in modern system architecture. This isn't about declaring a winner. It's about understanding the architectural trade-offs so you can make informed decisions for your specific use case. Let's dive into what makes each approach tick and when to choose one over the other.…