Um estudo comparativo entre as APIs para aplicações Web : RESTful, GraphQL e gRPC

Abstract

CONTEXT: In the technological landscape of the last decade, APIs have grown and solidified as essential applications in software production and consumption, especially Web APIs, which are applications used for communication between online services and applications. MOTIVATION: In this context, there are several Web APIs available on the market to meet different demands. Each of them has its own particularities, making it necessary to understand their differences and their behavior in certain scenarios. Therefore, it is essential that developers identify the most appropriate type of API for specific cases. However, to date, there are few studies in the literature that analyze the types of Web APIs and help readers choose between them. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this work performs a comparative analysis of the following types of Web APIs available on the market: GraphQL, RESTful, and gRPC. The objective is to analyze the behavior of these APIs in different scenarios to determine which ones best adapt to different contexts. METHODOLOGY: The following steps were planned for this study: Starting with the bibliography and defining comparison criteria. Next, three types of Web APIs will be implemented to collect results and metrics, such as performance and ease of development. Finally, through the comparative study and responses obtained through a form, it will be determined which APIs best adapt to specific situations, scenarios, and applications. BENEFICIARIES: The results of this study benefit developers, companies, and researchers, as they will be able to observe the characteristics presented for each of the Web APIs discussed in the paper. Furthermore, it will serve as a reference point for developers choosing which Web API best suits the project they are developing.