GraphQL is a query language and runtime for APIs that enables clients to request only the data they need, making it more efficient than alternatives like [[REST]], which often over-fetch or under-fetch data. It can be integrated into a [[Django]] backend by using the Graphene library and can be coupled with [[React.js]] on the frontend to create more dynamic, efficient, and maintainable web applications. In the grand scheme of web development, utilizing GraphQL facilitates better control over data, optimizes performance, and promotes a more scalable and flexible application architecture.