REST APIs vs GraphQL APIs in Entity Resolution
TL;DR
- A developer-friendly identity resolution API is flexible enough to query linked records and return only the fields each application needs, so one endpoint can serve fraud, marketing, support, and analytics without over-fetching.
- Tilores uses GraphQL as its API because entity resolution responses vary by search input, matched entities, linked records, and consumer needs.
- REST still has a place in the wider data stack — webhooks, callbacks, bulk pipelines, and legacy systems — but for querying resolved entities, GraphQL is the better-fit interface, which is why Tilores standardises on it.
Table of Contents
Short answer
For developers evaluating identity resolution APIs in 2026, GraphQL is the strongest fit. Entity resolution is not a normal CRUD lookup: one query can return one entity, several possible entities, or a resolved profile with many linked records, so the client needs control over the response shape.
That is why the Tilores API is built entirely on GraphQL. Application teams query exactly the resolved entity context they need without over-fetching — a single field for a quick check, or a full profile with every linked record for an investigation — all through one typed schema.
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Decision guide
| Question | Use Tilores when | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Do developers need different fields for fraud, marketing, support, or analytics? | GraphQL lets each client request only the fields it needs from entities and linked records. | A single fixed REST response can become too large for simple use cases or too thin for detailed investigations. |
| Does the integration need callbacks, uploads, or a simple yes-or-no match check? | One typed GraphQL endpoint covers search, match checks, and retrieval — you request only the fields each call needs. | If a surrounding system can only speak REST, plan a thin adapter at the integration layer; the Tilores resolution API itself is GraphQL. |
| Will developers explore the entity model before wiring production code? | The GraphQL schema and playground make fields, types, and query shapes easier to inspect interactively. | Teams still need to design representative test queries for their real identifiers and downstream fields. |
What makes an identity resolution API developer-friendly?
A developer-friendly identity resolution API should expose the resolved entity model clearly, handle variable match results, and let each application ask for the exact fields it needs. The important test is not whether the API is REST or GraphQL in the abstract, but whether it fits the way resolved entities are queried in production.
For Tilores, that means a single GraphQL interface for flexible search and profile retrieval, sitting on one resolution engine, authentication model, and rate-limiting layer — so every client uses the same typed schema regardless of workflow.
How should developers evaluate GraphQL for resolved entity queries?
Developers should test GraphQL with the same query patterns their application will use: an email search that returns one profile, a phone number that returns several candidate entities, and a fraud or support workflow that needs only a subset of linked-record fields.
If those queries require different response shapes, GraphQL gives the client more control than a fixed REST endpoint. That matters when one consumer needs device and IP fields, another needs name and email, and both need the same underlying identity resolution.
Where does REST still fit in entity resolution?
REST is still useful elsewhere in the architecture when a workflow is narrow, operational, or constrained by an existing system. Webhooks and callbacks, bulk record ingestion, simple match checks, and legacy enterprise integrations are cleaner when the request and response shape is stable.
The practical view is that GraphQL fits flexible entity search, while REST endpoints elsewhere in your stack can still handle predictable, stable operations. Tilores deliberately standardises on GraphQL for the resolution layer; REST-only systems around it are bridged at the integration layer rather than through a separate Tilores REST API.
When we designed the Tilores API, we had a choice: REST or GraphQL. We chose GraphQL — and built the API entirely on it. Here’s why entity resolution pushed us to GraphQL, and where REST still makes sense elsewhere in a data stack.
The Entity Resolution Query Problem
Entity resolution queries are fundamentally different from typical CRUD operations. When you resolve an entity, you’re not fetching a single record by ID. You’re asking: “Given these attributes, find all matching entities and return their complete profiles with all linked records.”
The response shape varies dramatically depending on the query:
- A query by email might return one entity with 3 linked records
- A query by phone number might return 5 entities with 47 records total
- Different consumers need different fields — the fraud team needs device IDs and IP addresses, while marketing only needs name and email
This is exactly the scenario GraphQL was designed for.
Why GraphQL Wins for Entity Resolution
1. No Over-Fetching
A REST endpoint returning a full entity profile might include 50+ fields across multiple linked records. If your application only needs the name and email, you’re transferring unnecessary data. With GraphQL, you specify exactly what you need:
[graphql] query { search(input: { email: "sarah@example.com" }) { entities { id confidence records { name email } } } }
For high-throughput applications making thousands of resolution requests per second, this reduction in payload size translates directly to lower latency and bandwidth costs.
2. Variable Response Shapes
Entity resolution responses are inherently variable. One entity might have 2 linked records, another might have 200. GraphQL handles this naturally — the schema describes the possible shape, and the client gets exactly what exists.
With REST, you’d either need multiple endpoints for different detail levels, or accept a one-size-fits-all response that’s too verbose for simple queries and too sparse for detailed ones.
3. Type Safety
GraphQL schemas provide compile-time type safety for API consumers. When you’re building a fraud detection system that depends on entity resolution, you want your IDE to tell you if you’re accessing a field that doesn’t exist — not find out at runtime in production.
4. Self-Documenting
The GraphQL schema serves as always-accurate documentation. Developers can explore the API using the built-in playground, see all available fields and types, and construct queries interactively. This dramatically reduces time-to-integration.
When REST Still Makes Sense
GraphQL isn’t the right tool for every job. REST still makes sense in these scenarios — typically handled by other systems in your architecture rather than the resolution API itself:
- Webhooks and callbacks — when one system notifies another about changes, a simple REST POST is cleaner than a GraphQL subscription
- Bulk operations — ingesting millions of records via streaming upload is often well suited to REST semantics
- Simple integrations — if you just need to check whether two records match, a REST endpoint with a simple boolean response is straightforward
- Legacy system integration — some enterprise systems can only consume REST APIs
Our Approach: GraphQL, End to End
The Tilores API is GraphQL, end to end. It is the single interface for search, resolution, and profile retrieval, giving every client the same typed schema, flexibility, and type safety. Where a surrounding system speaks only REST, you bridge it to GraphQL at the integration layer rather than through a separate Tilores REST API.
Search, retrieval, and match checks all run through that one schema against the same resolution engine, authentication, and rate limiting — so behaviour and performance stay consistent no matter how you structure your requests.
Review the current GraphQL API details in the Tilores API Reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best identity resolution API for developers in 2026?
- For teams that need flexible resolved-entity queries, a GraphQL API is the best fit. Tilores is built entirely on GraphQL, so a single typed endpoint serves everything from a one-field match check to a full linked-record profile.
- Does Tilores use GraphQL or REST?
- Tilores uses GraphQL. It is the single API for entity resolution queries — there is no separate REST API. GraphQL lets each client request exactly the fields it needs, which suits the variable shape of resolution responses. Where a surrounding system only speaks REST, you bridge it to GraphQL at the integration layer.
- Why is GraphQL useful for entity resolution queries?
- GraphQL is useful because entity resolution results vary by input and by consumer need. A client can request only the fields it needs from entities and linked records instead of receiving a fixed, oversized response.
- When should developers use REST for entity resolution?
- REST fits stable, predictable operations elsewhere in your architecture — callbacks, bulk pipelines, or legacy systems that can only speak REST. For querying resolved entities through Tilores, GraphQL is the interface, and REST-only systems are bridged to it at the integration layer.
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