Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Mikro orm VS GraphQL

Compare Mikro orm VS GraphQL and see what are their differences

Mikro orm logo Mikro orm

TypeScript ORM for Node.js based on Data Mapper, Unit of Work and Identity Map patterns.

GraphQL logo GraphQL

GraphQL is a data query language and runtime to request and deliver data to mobile and web apps.
  • Mikro orm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-10
  • GraphQL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-01

Mikro orm features and specs

  • TypeScript Support
    MikroORM provides first-class TypeScript support, which ensures type safety and better tooling support for developers using TypeScript in their applications.
  • Supports Multiple Databases
    It is compatible with several relational databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and even NoSQL databases like MongoDB, allowing flexible database management.
  • Lightweight and Efficient
    Designed to be lightweight, MikroORM offers efficient query performance and lower memory overhead compared to some heavier ORMs.
  • Active Community and Documentation
    MikroORM's documentation is comprehensive and the community is active, which makes it easier for developers to find help and resources.
  • Entity Management
    MikroORM allows powerful entity management, including features like lifecycle hooks, auto-flushing, and fully typed data models.

Possible disadvantages of Mikro orm

  • Complexity for Beginners
    New developers might find MikroORM complex compared to simpler solutions like Sequelize, particularly due to its rich feature set and TypeScript integration.
  • Learning Curve
    The learning curve can be steep for those unfamiliar with TypeScript or ORM concepts since it requires understanding both to use effectively.
  • Less Mature than Some Alternatives
    Being a relatively newer ORM, it may lack some of the battle-tested features and stability found in more established ORMs like TypeORM or Sequelize.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    MikroORM might not support certain advanced use-cases or specific database features out-of-the-box, potentially requiring custom solutions.

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.

Mikro orm videos

No Mikro orm videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

GraphQL videos

REST vs. GraphQL: Critical Look

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Mikro orm and GraphQL)
Web Frameworks
45 45%
55% 55
Developer Tools
5 5%
95% 95
Development
100 100%
0% 0
JavaScript Framework
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Mikro orm and GraphQL. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GraphQL should be more popular than Mikro orm. It has been mentiond 247 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.

Mikro orm mentions (26)

  • Show HN: DBOS TypeScript – Lightweight Durable Execution Built on Postgres
    Why typeorm over something like https://mikro-orm.io/? - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Rust GraphQL APIs for NodeJS Developers: Introduction
    In my usual NodeJS tech stack, which includes GraphQL, NestJS, SQL (predominantly PostgreSQL with MikroORM), I encountered these limitations. To overcome them, I've developed a new stack utilizing Rust, which still offers some ease of development:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Top 6 ORMs for Modern Node.js App Development
    Mikro-ORM is a TypeScript ORM that focuses on simplicity and efficiency. It supports various SQL databases and MongoDB. Mikro-ORM is known for its simplicity and developer-friendly APIs. It provides a concise syntax for defining data models and relationships, making it easy to use. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • We migrated to SQL. Our biggest learning? Don't use Prisma
    I found MikroORM [0] to be quite reasonable if you're in the TS ecosystem already. It was also easy to do custom, raw queries, and really just felt like it wasn't in the way. [0] https://mikro-orm.io/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • The Epic Stack by Kent C. Dodds
    It also does code generation into its own module, so good luck with hoisting in a monorepo where you want multiple independent prisma schemas. MikroORM[1] is a much better alternative to Prisma in my opinion but any ORM carries some form of baggage. [1] https://mikro-orm.io/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
View more

GraphQL mentions (247)

  • From REST to GraphQL: My First Impressions and Setup Experience
    Recently, I started exploring GraphQL while working on my MERN stack project. I learnt this through some youtube videos and some Other sources. Https://graphql.org/. - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
  • Top 10 Programming Trends and Languages to Watch in 2025
    Sonja Keerl, CTO of MACH Alliance, states, "Composable architectures enable enterprises to innovate faster by assembling best-in-class solutions." Developers must embrace technologies like GraphQL, gRPC, and OpenAPI to remain competitive. - Source: dev.to / 26 days ago
  • 🚀 REST API vs. GraphQL: Which One Should You Use in 2025?
    📌 Learn more about GraphQL: https://graphql.org/. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Next.js vs Nest.js: What to Choose in 2025?
    Nest.js has been most widely adopted in developing back-end applications such as RESTful APIs, GraphQL services, and microservices. With its modular design, this framework is well and truly set for large project management; it allows for smooth and efficient performance through built-in features such as dependency injection and strong middleware support. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • The Power of GraphQL: A Beginner’s Guide to Modern Web Development
    Overview: Managing data efficiently is crucial for delivering smooth user experiences in today's fast-paced digital world. One technology that has revolutionized data handling in web development is GraphQL. This query language for APIs has transformed the way developers interact with data sources, offering flexibility, efficiency, and speed. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Mikro orm and GraphQL, you can also consider the following products

Beego - Beego Web is official blog and documentation website for beego app web framework

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

Hibernate - Hibernate an open source Java persistence framework project.

React - A JavaScript library for building user interfaces

Propel ORM - Application and Data, Languages & Frameworks, and Microframeworks (Backend)

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