Livestream: Optimize a Figma design for Import | 3/20

Announcing Visual Copilot - Figma to production in half the time

Builder logo
builder.io
Contact SalesGo to App

Livestream: Optimize a Figma design for Import | 3/20

Announcing Visual Copilot - Figma to production in half the time

Builder logo
builder.io
Back arrow icon
Back to Glossary
GraphQL Definition
GraphQL is a query language for APIs and a runtime for fulfilling those queries with existing data. It provides a complete and understandable description of the data in your API, allowing clients to ask for exactly what they need and nothing more. GraphQL supports reading, writing (mutating), and subscribing to changes in data (real-time updates).
GraphQL hero image
What's on this page? 

    Glossary Terms

    What's on this page? 

      What is GraphQL?

      GraphQL is a typed query language for APIs. It runs server-side, executing queries against your existing code and data sources. You define a schema that describes your data types and their relationships. Clients can then request exactly the fields they need in a single query, and GraphQL fetches only that data from your backend.

      It's database-agnostic, so it works with any storage system you're using. GraphQL sits between your client and your existing services, providing a flexible interface that evolves with your needs without changing underlying data sources.

      GraphQL is a query language

      GraphQL is not tied to any specific database or storage engine. It's a language for querying data from various sources. There are two main types of operations in GraphQL:

      1. Queries: Used to fetch data
      2. Mutations: Used to modify data

      How GraphQL works?

      The core principle of GraphQL is asking for what you need and receiving just that—nothing more, nothing less. This approach eliminates over-fetching and under-fetching of data, making GraphQL highly efficient.

      GraphQL uses a type system to ensure that apps only request what's possible, providing clear and helpful errors when issues arise. It's organized in terms of types and fields, not endpoints, making it easy to set up and use.

      GraphQL schema

      A GraphQL schema acts as a contract between the client and server. It's written in the GraphQL Schema Definition Language (SDL) and defines the types of data in the system.

      Types and fields in GraphQL

      GraphQL uses a strong type system to define the structure of your API. The schema is composed of object types, which represent the kinds of objects you can fetch from your service, and the filds on those types.

      For example, a basic schema might look like this:

      type Query {
  user(id: ID!): User
}

type User {
  id: ID!
  name: String!
  email: String
  posts: [Post!]
}

type Post {
  id: ID!
  title: String!
  content: String!
  author: User!
}

      In this schema:

      • Query is a special type that defines entry points for the API
      • User and Post are object types with various fields
      • Fields like id, name, email are scalar types (ID, String)
      • The posts field on User is a list type, indicating a user can have multiple posts
      • The ! indicates a non-null field

      This type of system allows GraphQL to validate queries at runtime, ensuring that clients only request valid data and receive predictable results.

      Benefits of GraphQL

      1. Efficiency: GraphQL allows clients to request only the data they need, reducing bandwidth usage and improving performance.
      2. Flexibility: With a single endpoint, clients can fetch all required data in a single request.
      3. Strong typing: GraphQL's type system helps catch errors early and provides better tooling support.
      4. Rapid frontend iterations: Developers can modify data requirements without waiting for backend changes.
      5. Insightful analytics: GraphQL provides fine-grained insights into data usage patterns.

      GraphQL vs. REST

      While REST is an architectural concept for network-based software, GraphQL is a query language and set of tools that operate over a single endpoint. Key differences include:

      • GraphQL uses a query language to tailor requests, while REST uses different endpoints for different resources.
      • GraphQL typically uses POST requests, while REST uses various HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, etc.).
      • GraphQL returns data in a format matching the client's request, while REST returns whole-resource structures.

      Getting started with GraphQL

      To begin using GraphQL:

      1. Design your schema based on your application's data requirements.
      2. Set up resolvers to connect your schema to data sources.
      3. Use a GraphQL client library (like Apollo Client or Relay) in your frontend application.

      Query syntax

      Here's a basic GraphQL query:

      query {
  job(id: "123") {
    title
    company {
      name
      location {
        city
        country
      }
    }
  }
}

      This query fetches a job by ID and its title, company name, and location details.

      Best practices

      1. Design your schema based on how the data will be used, not on how it's red.
      2. Use a strong type system to define your API capabilities clearly.
      3. Implement pagination for large datasets to improve performance.
      4. Use aliases and fragments to keep your queries clean and reusable.

      Common challenges and solutions

      1. Caching: Use tools like Apollo Client or Relay to implement efficient caching strategies.
      2. Query complexity: Implement query cost analysis to prevent resource-intensive queries.
      3. Security: Use depth limiting, query timeouts, and proper authentication to protect your API.

      Builder's GraphQL API

      Builder.io provides a GraphQL Content API that allows you to query your data efficiently. Here's how to use it:

      1. Endpoint: https://cdn.builder.io/api/v1/graphql/YOUR_API_KEY?query=QUERY
      2. Basic usage:
      3. With targeting:
      4. With custom query:
      5. For React applications:
      6. To get HTML:

      For more details, refer to Builder's GraphQL API documentation and Admin GraphQL Schema.

      GraphQL offers a powerful and flexible approach to building APIs. Understanding its core concepts and best practices allows you to create efficient, scalable, and developer-friendly APIs for your applications.

      RELATED CONTENT

      Builder APIs
      UIs Over API
      Connect to learn more about Builder.io
      Get a demo
      Sign up for free

      Share this page

      Glossary Terms