gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call) is a high-performance, open-source RPC framework developed by Google that allows applications to communicate with each other efficiently, especially in microservices architectures. Instead of sending raw HTTP requests like REST, gRPC lets you call a function on another server as if it were a local method. 1. What problem does gRPC solve? In distributed systems: Services need to talk to each other fastData should be small and efficientAPIs should be strongly typedMultiple languages should work together gRPC solves these by using: HTTP/2Protocol Buffers (Protobuf)Code generation 2. How gRPC works (Simple Flow) You define your API in a .proto filegRPC generates client & server codeClient calls a method like a local functiongRPC: Serializes data using ProtobufSends it over HTTP/2Deserializes on the server Server returns the response 3. Key Technologies Used 1. Protocol Buffers (Protobuf) Binary serialization formatSmaller & faster than JSONStrongly typed Example: 2. HTTP/2 gRPC uses HTTP/2, which supports: Multiplexing (multiple calls over one connection)Header compressionBi-directional streamingLow latency 4. Types of gRPC Calls gRPC supports 4 communication patterns: Unary (Request → Response) Like REST Server Streaming Client Streaming Bi-directional Streaming 5. gRPC vs REST (Quick Comparison) Feature gRPC REST Protocol HTTP/2 HTTP/1.1 Data Format Protobuf (binary) JSON (text) Speed Very fast Slower Streaming Native support Limited Code Generation Yes No (manual) Browser Support Limited Excellent Typing Strongly typed Weakly typed 6. When should you use gRPC? Best for: Microservices communicationHigh-performance systemsInternal APIsReal-time streamingPolyglot systems (Java, C#, Go, Python, etc.) Avoid when: Public APIs for browsersSimple CRUD appsSEO-based web apps 7. Languages Supported gRPC supports many languages: C#JavaGoPythonNode.jsC++PHPRuby 8. Real-world Use Cases Google internal servicesNetflix internal APIsKubernetesCloud-native systemsReal-time chat & telemetry systems 9. Simple Definition (Interview-friendly) gRPC is a high-performance RPC framework that uses HTTP/2 and Protocol Buffers to enable fast, strongly-typed communication between distributed services.

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What is GRPC?

Anubhav Sharma 428 12 Jan 2026

1 Answers

Anubhav Sharma 12 Jan 2026

gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call) is a high-performance, open-source RPC framework developed by Google that allows applications to communicate with each other efficiently, especially in microservices architectures.

Instead of sending raw HTTP requests like REST, gRPC lets you call a function on another server as if it were a local method.

1. What problem does gRPC solve?

In distributed systems:

Services need to talk to each other fast
Data should be small and efficient
APIs should be strongly typed
Multiple languages should work together

gRPC solves these by using:

2. How gRPC works (Simple Flow)

You define your API in a .proto file
gRPC generates client & server code
Client calls a method like a local function
gRPC:
- Serializes data using Protobuf
- Sends it over HTTP/2
- Deserializes on the server
Server returns the response

3. Key Technologies Used

1. Protocol Buffers (Protobuf)

Binary serialization format
Smaller & faster than JSON
Strongly typed

Example:

message UserRequest {
  int32 id = 1;
}

2. HTTP/2

gRPC uses HTTP/2, which supports:

Multiplexing (multiple calls over one connection)
Header compression
Bi-directional streaming
Low latency

4. Types of gRPC Calls

gRPC supports 4 communication patterns:

Unary (Request → Response)

Like REST

Client → Server → Client

Server Streaming

Client → Server → (multiple responses)

Client Streaming

(multiple requests) → Server → Response

Bi-directional Streaming

Client ↔ Server (both stream continuously)

5. gRPC vs REST (Quick Comparison)

Feature	gRPC	REST
Protocol	HTTP/2	HTTP/1.1
Data Format	Protobuf (binary)	JSON (text)
Speed	Very fast	Slower
Streaming	Native support	Limited
Code Generation	Yes	No (manual)
Browser Support	Limited	Excellent
Typing	Strongly typed	Weakly typed

6. When should you use gRPC?

Best for:

Microservices communication
High-performance systems
Internal APIs
Real-time streaming
Polyglot systems (Java, C#, Go, Python, etc.)

Avoid when:

Public APIs for browsers
Simple CRUD apps
SEO-based web apps

7. Languages Supported

gRPC supports many languages:

C#
Java
Go
Python
Node.js
C++
PHP
Ruby

8. Real-world Use Cases

Google internal services
Netflix internal APIs
Kubernetes
Cloud-native systems
Real-time chat & telemetry systems

9. Simple Definition (Interview-friendly)

gRPC is a high-performance RPC framework that uses HTTP/2 and Protocol Buffers to enable fast, strongly-typed communication between distributed services.

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