gRPC.
Calling a function on another machine as if it were local, using a compact, pre-agreed format instead of plain text.
- Dear server, send users.1
REST mails a plain letter: readable text anyone can open and skim by hand.
- Lots of words to parse.2
Easy to test, but the envelope is bulky and both sides spend time reading it.
- Same rulebook, both ends.3
gRPC has both sides learn one rulebook first — a shared schema of the messages.
- Compact and fast.4
Now they speak a tight binary shorthand: smaller to send, quicker to read.
- Like calling next door.5
And it calls a remote function as if it were local — no envelope to address by hand.
- Need the rulebook to follow.6
The trade: browsers can’t read the shorthand directly, and you can’t eyeball it.
Semicolony semicolony.dev/eli5/grpc/comic