SOQL vs GraphQL

Developers should learn SOQL when working with Salesforce to efficiently access and manipulate data stored in Salesforce objects, such as for building custom Apex code, integrating with external systems, or creating dynamic Visualforce pages meets developers should learn graphql when building modern web or mobile applications that require flexible, efficient data fetching, such as in complex frontend-backend integrations or microservices architectures. Here's our take.

SOQL

Nice Pick

Developers should learn SOQL when working with Salesforce to efficiently access and manipulate data stored in Salesforce objects, such as for building custom Apex code, integrating with external systems, or creating dynamic Visualforce pages

Pros

• It is particularly useful in scenarios like data migration, reporting, and automation where precise data retrieval from Salesforce's multi-tenant architecture is required, ensuring optimized performance and security within the platform's constraints
• Related to: apex, salesforce-platform

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

GraphQL

Developers should learn GraphQL when building modern web or mobile applications that require flexible, efficient data fetching, such as in complex frontend-backend integrations or microservices architectures

Pros

• It's particularly useful for scenarios where clients need to avoid multiple round-trips to servers or when APIs must evolve without breaking existing queries
• Related to: apollo-client, relay

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. SOQL is a language while GraphQL is a tool. We picked SOQL based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

SOQL wins

Based on overall popularity. SOQL is more widely used, but GraphQL excels in its own space.