As data needs increase and storage facilities such as cloud storage become available, data storage is no longer an issue. However, data transfer is still a lagging area. Though efforts have been made to avoid this latency in data transfer with frameworks such as SOAP and REST, the time demands a more efficient framework. This is where gRPC comes into the picture. In this blog, we will explore the basic concepts of gRPC.

This technology is indispensable for corporate operations, however only a minority of organizations fully comprehend its potential. With that being stated, below is the essential information that all businesses should be aware of about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in business, and the significance of doing so.

What is an API?

But before moving forward with gRPC, let’s understand what an API is, as it forms the foundation of gRPC. API stands for Application Programming Interface, a set of rules that allow different software applications to communicate. APIs are used to exchange data and perform actions.

Getting familiar with gRPC

gRPC is a high-performance, open-source framework for remote procedure calls (RPCs). It’s used to connect services and devices across data centers and networks.
Key features of gRPC include:

• Bi-directional streaming
• Multiplexing
• Cross-platform support for many languages
• Built-in security with SSL/TLS encryption

gRPC Workflows

The workflows of gRPC are as follows

Why is it Important to Use gRPC

The reasons behind gRPC being so popular are as follows

1. Broad Language Support

gRPC facilitates working in many different languages and frameworks such as Java, Ruby, Go, Node.js, etc. gRPC clients can invoke functions similar to a GET request, making it more versatile than traditional APIs

2. Smaller Message Size

gRPC messages are smaller than traditional RESTful API messages because the binary message formats—Protocol Buffers—are smaller and faster to parse than text-based formats like JSON. This results in speedier transmission between the client and the server.

3. Faster communication

HTTP/2 is more efficient than older protocols like HTTP/1.1—allowing gRPC to reduce network bandwidth usage and decrease latency. Also, since the messages are smaller, they can be transferred more quickly between servers and clients. This also helps reduce the network load and provides a smoother user experience.

4. Streaming Connection

A streaming connection allows the transmission of large chunks of data, improving the performance of sending and receiving information. It enables continuous data reception from the server instead of waiting for the entire data chunk to arrive, thereby reducing client wait times. It minimizes the risk of data corruption or loss during transmission by maintaining a continuous connection between the client and server.

5. Pluggable Support

gRPC supports plugging in load balancing, tracing, health checking, and authentication. This makes it easy to set up and manage high-performance systems.

6. Strong Typing

gRPC uses Protocol Buffers, which provide strong typing for messages. This can help catch errors at compile-time rather than runtime, leading to more robust and reliable systems.

7. Code Generation

gRPC automatically generates client and server code from your service definitions. This can significantly reduce the amount of boilerplate code you need to write and maintain.

REST vs gRPC

1. REST

REST operates on the HTTP/1.1 protocol, which is slower compared to modern alternatives. REST uses JSON as its payload format, which is textual and comparatively larger in size. It is open API in nature which means you do not strictly require an API contract with REST.
In it, the code generation is dependent on third-party tools such as Swagger. SSL/TLS encryption is used for security purposes. For streaming requirements, only client-server and browser support is required.

2. gRPC

Operates on HTTP/2 protocol which is faster as compared to HTTP/1.1. The payload used is Protobuf which is based on binary codes and as a result is small. It does strictly require the API contracts.
It facilitates built-in code generation with a protocol. The security encryption is the same as REST which is SSL/TLS. It offers Bi-directional streaming with limited browser support as it only requires gRPC- web.

Types of gRPC

The 4 types of gRPC are as follows-

Unary– This type of Remote Procedure Call (RPCs) is initiated by the client to which the server responds. It can transmit one message at a time.

Client Streaming– In this RPC, the client can send multiple queries at a time for the server to respond, the end of the stream is also indicated by the client.

Server Streaming– According to this type, the process is initiated by the client but the stream of messages and its end are indicated by the server only.

Bi-Directional Streaming– Bi-Directional Streaming involves both the client and server continuously sending and receiving messages, enabling real-time, interactive communication.

gRPC Supported Languages

gRPC supports multiple programming languages, making it highly versatile. Some of them are-

• C++
• Dart
• Java
• C
• PHP
• GO
• Ruby
• Node. js etc

Use cases of gRPC

Let’s now discuss certain use cases of gRPC. It is mainly used in –

Microservices Communication– Ideal for inter-service communication within large distributed systems.

Real-Time Applications– Real-time chat applications, live data feeds, and online gaming systems benefit from gRPC’s bi-directional streaming.

IoT Systems– Devices and sensors often need efficient, low-latency communication, where gRPC excels.

Mobile Apps– gRPC’s small payloads and fast communication make it ideal for mobile apps requiring low-bandwidth communication.