GraphQL is a query language and runtime for APIs that helps developers efficiently retrieve and manipulate data. Unlike traditional RESTful APIs, where clients often receive a fixed structure of data, GraphQL allows clients to specify the exact data they need, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching of data.

One key distinction is that in GraphQL, clients can make a single request to retrieve multiple resources, reducing the number of round trips between the client and server. This improves efficiency and reduces network overhead.

Another advantage of GraphQL is its ability to aggregate data from multiple sources into a single response. With GraphQL, developers can write complex queries that join data from different backend services or databases, simplifying the client-side logic and reducing the number of requests.

GraphQL has gained popularity in web development for its flexibility and efficiency in fetching and manipulating data. It is commonly used in modern frameworks such as React, Angular, and Vue.js, and it offers significant benefits for applications with complex data requirements.