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GraphQL VS JSON Placeholder

Compare GraphQL VS JSON Placeholder and see what are their differences

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GraphQL logo GraphQL

GraphQL is a data query language and runtime to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps.

JSON Placeholder logo JSON Placeholder

JSON Placeholder is a modern platform that provides you online REST API, which you can instantly use whenever you need any fake data.
  • GraphQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01
  • JSON Placeholder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-17

GraphQL features and specs

  • Efficient Data Retrieval
    GraphQL allows clients to request only the data they need, reducing the amount of data transferred over the network and improving performance.
  • Strongly Typed Schema
    GraphQL uses a strongly typed schema to define the capabilities of an API, providing clear and explicit API contracts and enabling better tooling support.
  • Single Endpoint
    GraphQL operates through a single endpoint, unlike REST APIs which require multiple endpoints. This simplifies the server architecture and makes it easier to manage.
  • Introspection
    GraphQL allows clients to query the schema for details about the available types and operations, which facilitates the development of powerful developer tools and IDE integrations.
  • Declarative Data Fetching
    Clients can specify the shape of the response data declaratively, which enhances flexibility and ensures that the client and server logic are decoupled.
  • Versionless
    Because clients specify exactly what data they need, there is no need to create different versions of an API when making changes. This helps in maintaining backward compatibility.
  • Increased Responsiveness
    GraphQL can batch multiple requests into a single query, reducing the latency and improving the responsiveness of applications.

Possible disadvantages of GraphQL

  • Complexity
    The setup and maintenance of a GraphQL server can be complex. Developers need to define the schema precisely and handle resolvers, which can be more complicated than designing REST endpoints.
  • Over-fetching Risk
    Though designed to mitigate over-fetching, poorly designed GraphQL queries can lead to the server needing to fetch more data than necessary, causing performance issues.
  • Caching Challenges
    Caching in GraphQL is more challenging than in REST, since different queries can change the shape and size of the response data, making traditional caching mechanisms less effective.
  • Learning Curve
    GraphQL has a steeper learning curve compared to RESTful APIs because it introduces new concepts such as schemas, types, and resolvers which developers need to understand thoroughly.
  • Complex Rate Limiting
    Implementing rate limiting is more complex with GraphQL than with REST. Since a single query can potentially request a large amount of data, simple per-endpoint rate limiting strategies are not effective.
  • Security Risks
    GraphQL's flexibility can introduce security risks. For example, improperly managed schemas could expose sensitive information, and complex queries can lead to denial-of-service attacks.
  • Overhead on Small Applications
    For smaller applications with simpler use cases, the overhead introduced by setting up and maintaining a GraphQL server may not be justified compared to a straightforward REST API.

JSON Placeholder features and specs

  • Free to Use
    JSON Placeholder is completely free for developers to use. There are no fees or subscription costs, which makes it accessible for anyone needing mock data quickly.
  • Reliable and Well-Maintained
    The API is maintained and kept up-to-date, ensuring that developers can rely on it for consistent performance and uptime.
  • Ease of Use
    The service is user-friendly, with clear documentation and straightforward endpoints, making it easy for developers to integrate and work with.
  • Variety of Data Types
    JSON Placeholder provides different types of data such as users, posts, comments, and todos, suitable for a variety of testing scenarios.
  • No Authentication Required
    The API does not require any form of authentication, which simplifies the process of making requests and testing applications.
  • Common Data Model
    The data model used by JSON Placeholder represents common entities often found in real-world applications, making it practical for most development purposes.

Possible disadvantages of JSON Placeholder

  • Static Data
    The data provided by JSON Placeholder is static and does not change, which can limit its usefulness for testing applications that require dynamic data.
  • Not Real Data
    The information provided is entirely fictional and may not accurately represent real-world scenarios, potentially leading to less realistic testing environments.
  • Limited Data Size
    The amount of data available is limited, which may not be sufficient for testing applications that require large datasets.
  • No Custom Data Generation
    JSON Placeholder does not offer features to generate custom datasets, which can be a limitation for developers who need specific data formats or structures.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    The API offers basic CRUD operations but lacks advanced features like filtering, sorting, or pagination, which may be necessary for some testing scenarios.

Analysis of JSON Placeholder

Overall verdict

  • Yes, JSON Placeholder is a good tool for developers looking for a simple and quick solution to test and prototype applications without the need for a backend during early-stage development.

Why this product is good

  • JSON Placeholder is a widely used online fake REST API for testing and prototyping. It provides developers with an easy way to simulate server responses without setting up a backend. This tool is especially useful for front-end developers who need to test their applications with data before an actual API is available. It offers endpoints for typical CRUD operations, making it highly versatile and useful for various testing scenarios.

Recommended for

  • Front-end developers
  • Developers working on prototyping
  • Testing purposes without backend setup
  • Learning and teaching API interactions
  • Quick mock data for demo applications

GraphQL videos

REST vs. GraphQL: Critical Look

More videos:

  • Review - REST vs GraphQL - What's the best kind of API?
  • Review - What Is GraphQL?

JSON Placeholder videos

Albums Json Placeholder - Review 4

More videos:

  • Review - JSON PLACEHOLDER - FAKE API

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GraphQL and JSON Placeholder)
Developer Tools
79 79%
21% 21
Development
0 0%
100% 100
JavaScript Framework
100 100%
0% 0
Online Services
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GraphQL should be more popular than JSON Placeholder. It has been mentiond 255 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GraphQL mentions (255)

  • Why GraphQL is gaining adoption
    In modern software architecture, Jamstack separates the frontend from the backend through API consumption. Traditionally, this has been achieved with RESTful APIs, which enable data exchange between server and client. However, REST often causes performance issues, such as over-fetching and added complexity. A client may need only a small subset of data, but a REST endpoint might return an entire dataset, which... - Source: dev.to / 7 days ago
  • These Key Features of GraphQL make it Unique among Other API Technologies
    Before we dive into GraphQL, it's crucial to understand the challenges it was designed to solve. Traditional API architectures like REST often struggle with two pervasive and inefficient patterns:. - Source: dev.to / 27 days ago
  • ๐Ÿ†โš›๏ธReact Roadmap Guide for Beginners 2025 (Updated)
    Graphql is a very powerful tool and it makes queries and requests much easier. After learning the basics with APIs and everything around that, I suggest you to give a look on how to use GraphQL. - Source: dev.to / 29 days ago
  • Building a JSON CRUD API in PHP
    Dive deeper into your PHP framework of choice by mastering its routing, middleware, and ORM capabilities. As your expertise grows, consider exploring advanced approaches like microservices for independent deployment or GraphQL for more flexible data querying. Event-driven architectures using tools like RabbitMQ or Kafka can also improve scalability and responsiveness. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • GraphQL API Design: Powerful Practices to Delight Developers
    GraphQL has revolutionized API design by eliminating the frustrations of over-fetching and under-fetching data. This powerful query language enables developers to request exactly what they need, resulting in faster applications and more efficient network usage. By allowing clients to gather data from multiple sources in a single request, GraphQL proves invaluable in today's microservices landscape, where data is... - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
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JSON Placeholder mentions (167)

  • Building a Production-Ready Todo List with Kotlin & Jetpack Compose: Modern Android Architecture & Testing
    Class KtorTodoRepository( private val client: HttpClient, private val baseUrl: String = "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com" ): TodoRepository { override suspend fun fetchTodosPage(start: Int, limit: Int): List { val url = "$baseUrl/todos?_start=$start&_limit=$limit" return client.get(url).body() // Auto-deserialization magic! } companion object { fun... - Source: dev.to / 21 days ago
  • Master API Load Testing with Artillery.io: Your APIs Under Fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ
    Config: target: "https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com" phases: - duration: 60 arrivalRate: 5 name: "Warm up" - duration: 120 arrivalRate: 20 name: "Sustained load" - duration: 60 arrivalRate: 50 name: "Peak traffic" Scenarios: - name: "Get posts" weight: 70 flow: - get: url: "/posts" - think: 2 - get: url:... - Source: dev.to / 24 days ago
  • Mastering React Native with TypeScript: From Basics to Brilliance - Part 3
    Import React, { useEffect, useState } from 'react'; Import { View, Text, Button, FlatList, ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native'; Import axios from 'axios'; Import { NativeStackScreenProps } from '@react-navigation/native-stack'; Import { RootStackParamList } from '../navigation/RootNavigator'; Type Props = NativeStackScreenProps; Interface User { id: number; name: string; } Const HomeScreen: React.FC =... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Top 10 JavaScript Libraries and Tools You Canโ€™t Ignore in 2025
    JavaScript continues to dominate web development in 2025, powering dynamic, scalable, and interactive applications. With an ever-evolving ecosystem, developers need tools and libraries that streamline workflows, enhance code quality, and boost performance. This article highlights 10 must-know JavaScript libraries and toolsโ€”Lodash, Axios, Day.js, D3.js, Zustand, Vite, ESLint, Prettier, Chart.js, and React Hook... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • I-Powered API Testing in Minutes using Keploy Chrome Extension ๐Ÿš€
    JSONPlaceholder A classic test API that simulates posts, comments, users, etc. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing GraphQL and JSON Placeholder, you can also consider the following products

React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

JSON Server - Get a full fake REST API with zero coding in less than 30 seconds. For front-end developers who need a quick back-end for prototyping and mocking

Next.js - A small framework for server-rendered universal JavaScript apps

Mockae - The most flexible way to mock REST APIs with Lua code execution

gRPC - Application and Data, Languages & Frameworks, Remote Procedure Call (RPC), and Service Discovery

ReqRes - A hosted REST-API ready to respond to your AJAX requests.