8-Reasons Why & When To Use GraphQL Over REST

Posted on June 17, 2022May 11, 2023 by Shibendu Roy - ED

8-Reasons Why & When To Use GraphQL Over REST

GraphQL is a server-side runtime and an open-source query language for developing new standards of APIs. It is a syntax for requesting data that focuses on providing clients with specific data they need. The purpose of bringing GraphQL over REST is to develop API more adaptable, developer-friendly, and fast. With GraphQL developer tools, API maintainers can add or remove fields without impacting the existing queries.

RESTful API architecture acts as a dominion for building backend web services though it comes with a few downsides. Some common ones are- over-fetching, multiple network requests for multiple resources, and waterfall network requests for dependent variables or resources. Thus, as an alternative to REST, GraphQL enables you to fetch data from numerous sources in a single API call, save bandwidth, and minimize waterfall network requests. So, here are 8-compelling reasons to use GraphQL over REST and when to use GraphQL for building APIs.

8-Significant Reasons Why Use GraphQL Over REST

#1 Strictly-typed Schema For Building Intuitive APIs

GraphQL SDL (Schema Definition Language) is strictly-typed, building a more reliable & flexible communication structure for both backend & front-end operations. The defined schema of GraphQL delivers its self-designated language between the server & client. The strictly-typed interfaces make the documentation easier and help in error detection.

Like REST, GraphQL isn’t dependent upon HTTP response codes or methods except for applying it as a channel for communication. GraphQL server has a single endpoint that works as a gateway offering extensive functionalities to clients. Wherein REST API has multiple endpoints that represent discrete resources. So, seamlessly build a uniform API over your entire application without getting restricted to a specific language or engine. This single endpoint delivers the full capabilities of the server by adding fields to the GraphQL root types- Queries, Mutation, and Subscription.

Furthermore, you need an engine to run the entire process that drives your API. A schema alone can’t add functionality to the server. It requires resolvers to fetch data for each field in the specified schema. Thus, effective schema plays an essential role in creating intuitive APIs. So, be subjective about node naming conventions and relationships in the GraphQL schema to secure a logical sense for users & domain.

#2 No More API Versioning

In RESTful architecture, APIs have multiple versions for every environment (api.domain.com/v1/, api.domain.com/v2/). That means Accept version-V1, Staging-V2, & Production-V3. Therefore, changes in requests or resources make it more challenging to manage the versions. There’s no need to maintain versions with GraphQL as it has only one graph version. The address or resource URL remains the same. You can also attach new fields or reprehend the older ones. This intuitive approach notifies the clients with a deprecation message while querying a deprecated field.

#3 Eliminates Over & Under-Fetching

Contrary to REST API architecture, GraphQL is a single endpoint that fetches the exact data at the client’s request. Over-fetching rises due to multiple requests for the same resource. For instance, a blog’s home page shows the list of all blog posts (only the Title & URLs). However, you need to fetch the entire blog post (including body data, images, etc.) through the API to represent this list. Therefore, it consumes high data and impacts your app’s performance. With GraphQL, you specify the fields (Title & URLs), and it fetches the data of those respective fields only.

On the other hand, Under-fetching happens for not getting adequate data in one API request. Thus, users may send additional requests to acquire the relevant data. For example, to know the author’s bio & name while viewing an individual blog post, you need to fetch the data of referenced author’s profile. Wherein GraphQL lets you get the entire relevant data through a single query.

#4 Less Time In API Documentation

The importance of documentation is to provide information about the use of APIs. In RESTful architecture, developers use a tool like Swagger to navigate & document sizeable APIs. In a microservice world, it becomes a bit expensive & time-consuming for API documentation. GraphQL offers a declarative data communication feature that allows developers to use the data based on their application requirements.

GraphQL has an IDE- Playground that functionalizes as a form of documentation for APIs. With this tool, you have the liberty to create interactive or static documentation. Additionally, the GraphQL Introspection query enables you to collect more details about GraphQL endpoints, schema, types, and possible operations.

Example of Introspection Query

#5 Schema Stitching & GraphQL Federation

Schema stitching is an effective solution for combining schemas in a microservice architecture. It is fruitful where each microservice controls the business data & logic against a specific domain. Furthermore, GraphQL Federation brings two or more schemas to set up a single gateway schema or unified GraphQL API. Hence, in both federation & schema stitching, requests get delegated to primary subgraphs that deliver the request for the applicable section of the graph.

#6 Error Handling

In traditional RESTful API architecture, during a request, if a part of code on a server side fails, the entire request might fail. Hence, this might lead to a complex logic or code bloat on front-end applications at times of microservice ecosystem failure. Wherein, GraphQL aims to resolve maximum data before returning.

Whenever the Apollo GraphQL server encounters an issue while processing an operation, it delivers an error array containing all the relevant information. Following that, there’s an extension for each error in the array that gives more useful information. It includes an exception. stack trace & error code. So, it recovers the data as much as possible and keeps the partial data safe for further use.

#7 Save Bandwidth & Time

You can operate multiple resource requests through a single query call. It minimizes the number of network round trips to the server, which saves bandwidth & time. It also prevents waterfall network requests for resolving the dependent resources on early requests. For instance, a blog’s home page contains multiple widgets like recent posts, most popular posts, featured ones, categories, etc. Viewing these would need a minimum of five requests with REST architecture. Wherein GraphQL requires just a single request to process the function.

#8 Open-Source Ecosystem For API Design

GraphQL has an open-source ecosystem that facilitates numerous tools, code libraries, and services. For example, Typescript & Javascript are the two commonly used languages in GraphQL architecture. The entire ecosystem runs on clients, gateways, servers, and tools. Even the popular open-source static site generator Gatsby is built on Node.js using GraphQL & React. A few examples of other tools & libraries are:

ORM (Object Relational Mapper)- TypeORM, Mongoose, and Sequilize
Database-to-GraphQL server- Prisma
IDEs- GraphiQL & GraphQL Playground

Synthesizing the GraphQL ecosystem with new tools and libraries makes it easier for developers to build constructive APIs.

When To Use GraphQL? – Architectural Patterns

The next question that strikes your mind is when to use GraphQL? From the technical aspect, the use cases of standard GraphQL architectural patterns are the best way to portray its implementation.

GraphQL Server With A Linked Database- This is the foundational use case where you get server libraries for various programming languages to build a server in line with GraphQL specifications. Here server exposes the database in a controlled manner by receiving a query and resolving it. The benefit of using this pattern is low complexities in data fetching. Low latency due to the data source being near to the application logic.

GraphQL layer For Integration- It works as an integration hub to connect multiple backends like 3-party APIs, Microservices, and Legacy systems. Here, GraphQL unifies the existing system and resolves the queries according to the client’s requests. This pattern applies to the extensive existing services of an organization. Or else it is risky to duplicate or implement new business logic.

Hybrid Integration- Here, the GraphQL server resolves queries by retrieving the data from its connected database & external systems. So, you get a unified API without sending multiple requests to the server to get the desired data. Let’s say you want to deprecate the services of old APIs. Firewall off the early one and allowlist your GraphQL server to add authentication & functionalities to it.

GraphQL is beneficial for some applications where it’s obvious to fetch the nested data in a single call. For instance, in the case of blogs or social networking platforms, it’s apparent to collect the posts with the nested comments and the details of the person commenting.

It’s a go-to choice for high-end applications such as smartwatches, mobile phones, IoT devices, and many more where bandwidth usage is a priority.

GraphQL VS REST Which Is The Best Architecture For API Design?

The most appropriate answer to this question lies within the objective of designing the API and its requirements. If you intend to build a web or mobile app that can fetch data from multiple resources in a single endpoint over low bandwidth, then GraphQL is the ideal choice. Conversely, if over or under-fetching isn’t your concern, and you need to collect entire page data, REST APIs are suitable.

Both API architectures are distinct in their features and functionalities. Here, we have covered the crucial technical factors for choosing GraphQL over REST for transforming the API design. From payload size, built-in documentation, fast performance, and error handling make it a future of APIs. To know more about API development, leave your comment below or contact us.

ACH Payment With Plaid & Stripe: Benefits & How It Works

Posted on June 13, 2022May 11, 2023 by Shibendu Roy - ED

ACH Payment With Plaid & Stripe: Benefits & How It Works

Minimizing Online Transaction Costs Using ACH Payments

Businesses accepting online payments through several portals might not get affected by additional charges. However, the credit card processing fees remain expensive for making a single transaction. As a result, this exorbitant cost might hit the profit margin of a business. Automated Clearing House- ACH payment is a cheaper alternative solution that minimizes credit card processing charges.

ACH is a constructive financial network that processes money transfers & digital payments. It enables easy bank transfers between individuals, commercials, and government accounts without presenting cash, checks, and cards. In this article, we’ve uncovered the benefits of using ACH payments & working system of it using Plaid and Stripe.

7-Reasons To Choose ACH Payment Gateway Integration For Business

Several factors must be taken into consideration while integrating a payment gateway for your business. Including cost, ease of use, technological needs, and user experience, ACH is the frontrunner in credit processing solutions. This online payment method helps you and your consumers to save time and money with more security & convenience. Here are 7-valid reasons that add more benefits to your business and improve customer satisfaction.

1. Reduce Transaction Costs

ACH processing can reduce the transaction costs compared to credit cards & checks. Credit card processing fees are around 2.5-3.5 percent of a transaction. However, an individual spends $4 to $20 for writing business checks (including mailing, signing, payment initiation, authorization, printing, and time spent).

On the flip side, processing fees with ACH are $1 less for each transaction. There are no set prices applicable for ACH payments like credit cards. The transaction takes place between two bank accounts using a clearing house which keeps the overhead cost low.

2. Maintain Cash Flow

Whether sending or accepting funds, ACH payments offer you a dependable cash flow and more control of your fund. If a consumer uses ACH payments, their checks arrive timely as the funds get transferred directly from the respective bank accounts.

You can schedule your due payments accordingly with ACH while paying your suppliers or vendors. Additionally, employers use ACH payments to clear their taxes and direct deposit for paying their employees through the bank. It allows you to maintain your fund in your account as long as you want. Thus, it reduces uncertainties, streamlines your account payable & receivable functions, and maximizes value.

3. Fast Processing

ACH makes the money transfer process simple. It takes less than five business days as a settlement time to clear a fund, which is faster than credit cards & checks. Additionally, (National Automated Clearing House Association) NACHA has approved a rule for one-day ACH transfer. NACHA operates this function through two processing windows:

10.30 AM ET is the deadline for morning submission and settlement at 1.00 PM.
3.00 PM ET is for afternoon submission, and settlement time is at 5.00 PM.

Thus, it will give more flexibility, workflow efficiency, and quicker access to funds for the operating businesses.

4. Recurring Billing

ACH direct debit or ‘auto pay’ is the most cost-effective tool that helps business operates on the subscription model. So, there is no involvement in paying high monthly processing fees. Once a customer authorizes the ACH direct debits, you can collect recurring payments effortlessly and reliably.

5. Better Convenience

ACH makes your money transfers more convenient for internet-initiated payments, direct deposits, and (P2P) Peer-to-Peer payments. It lets your customers set up a one-time or recurring payment option for paying their bills. Thus, it facilitates you to timely collect payments by generating auto-invoice. Furthermore, the chances of shopping cart abandonment rate and payment disputes are lower with ACH.

6. More Security

In the case of checks, there are chances of being stolen or signature forgery. ACH eliminates intermediaries as transactions take place directly between bank accounts. Some customers may hesitate to share their banking details. With ACH, payment processors perform two-way verification to validate the authenticity of both parties. Additionally, it adds an extra security layer with encryption to keep the details of customers intact and safe. This verification process ensures two crucial things: the accuracy of the account information & no transaction blocks.

7. ACH Minimizes Churn

Credit cards have a 3-years lifespan by considering the facts like damage, expiry, and chances of losing or misplacement. On average, an individual uses a bank account for 14 years. Establishing a link with the customer’s bank account through ACH might reduce the payment churn and increase revenue. Specifically, it is applicable for recurring payments such as software subscriptions. Even for B2B spaces, around 20-40 percent churn generates from credit card errors. So, payment gateway integration using Plaid ACH & Stripe is profitable for businesses in the long term.

How Does ACH Payment Work With Plaid & Stripe?

Let’s find out how to initiate ACH Payments using Plaid & Stripe.

Ascertaining ACH Providers

Before starting ACH transactions, you need one system that connects you with an ODFI (Originating Depository Financial Institution). The system must be able to update you with the payment status. Including that, it needs to facilitate an interface to authenticate, cross-check, and charge the user accordingly.

Here comes the presence of Stripe alongside a partnership with Plaid to make the fund transfers seamless through ACH. So, you need to understand the connectivity between the two entities. By using Plaid, the Stripe account holder can authorize the users and leave out the micro-deposit authentication process delay. So, Stripe is responsible for handling the ACH workflow and the funds’ movement. And, Plaid acts as a data provider and an authentication gateway for users to tokenize the ACH transaction.

ACH Workflow

ACH is a multi-staged and layered process that works steadily to verify & protect the data of all the parties involved. Thus, we have distributed the entire transaction process to analyze the ACH workflow and the contributions of Plaid & Stripe.

Application Developer or Owner

You need a software application to maintain the records of your online store. Online multi-vendor marketplace application with payment integration via ACH helps you to keep financial transaction records. So, to execute the whole function, you need to register with Stripe by providing a few details about your business, personal information, valid Social Security Number, and contact details. For Plaid, you only need to provide your name and email id to get started. However, crossing more than 100 users’ calls might need additional information.

Financial Institution

Financial bodies work as a mediator of the ACH network. They get the ACH files from a provider and transfer them to the respective cleaning houses. ACH providers or customers may get the notification of the transaction status if the financial institution is an RFDI or OFDI. In the case of Stripe, Wells Fargo is its OFDI, and Plaid deals with the user’s bank for retrieving & validating the information to ensure the transaction is legitimate.

Role Of Plaid

Plaid authenticates the buyers or users to authorize the ACH payment via Stripe. It enables you to integrate the Plaid Link module into your application. As a result, this will create a safe gateway for users to link their bank accounts by filling in all the credentials. Once the Stripe account gets connected with the Plaid, it offers a valid token for Stripe to continue the ACH transaction.

Role Of Stripe

Stripe allows you to charge ACH payments to consumers. To perform that function, the application developer or owner needs to create a Customer item within the internal system of Stripe. It requires an authorized token issued by Plaid. Furthermore, the developer can charge the customer by placing a Charge item in the database. This action will trigger Stripe to generate an ACH file for proceeding to its OFDI. Stripe also offers endpoints & webhooks to the developers for getting updates.

End User

Customers or buyers are unaware of this entire backend or web development procedure that happens while purchasing a product from an online store. To validate the transactions, the user needs to provide a few banking credentials through the secure Plaid module. After the completion of the transaction, the user can check the pending transfer in the respective bank account, product delivery status, and the final settled transaction.

Bottomline

With the increase in digital payment methods, businesses & customers seek better alternatives. So, ACH payment is the most cost-effective way that gives significant savings over credit & debit card fees. Now, any business can use these technologies and set up their payment gateway integration option to save more on billings.

So, Capsquery has simplified all the technical aspects of ACH payment processing with Plaid & Stripe. Thus, switching your payment method to ACH might enhance your user experience & economize your financial transactions. For more details regarding the payment integration API functions, hit the comment box or contact us.

Tag: API