GraphQL vs. OpenAPI: Pros and cons for data governance

GraphQL and OpenAPI are two important frameworks within the enterprise for API standards. Both define agreements between data consumers and providers but have significant differences in capabilities and contract specifications. In terms of data governance, GraphQL has a sophisticated type system, a well-defined query language, and a flexible, structured extensibility approach. It can accomplish everything that OpenAPI can and aligns more easily with underlying data sources. However, establishing internal standards and practices to maintain lineage back to underlying data, generating audit evidence, managing fine-grained access controls, and supporting consistent experiences across multiple client protocols requires technical leadership, architecture, and design across a distributed data delivery environment.