The power of GraphQL.
Tags: Slack, Twitter, Developer

The power of GraphQL.

What is GraphQL?

GraphQL is an open source server-side technology which was developed by Facebook to optimize RESTful API calls. It's an execution engine and data query language.

Concept of GraphQL.

i. Implement GraphQL API using Apollo server.

ii. Test GraphQL API using GraphQL.

iii. Build ReatJS(with apollo client library).

iv. JQuery client applications to consume the API.

Why GraphQL?

The answer is very simple, we all know that RESTful APIs have a clear and well structured resource oriented approach, but when the data gets more complex, the routes get longer to some point it's not possible to fetch data with a single request which is where GraphQL is the real deal. GraphQL structure data in a graph form with its powerful query syntax for traversing, retrieving, and modifying data.

Advantages of using GraphQL query language.

Ask for what you want and you get it: Send a GraphQL query to your API and get exactly what you need.

GraphQL queries always return predictable results:Application using GraphQL are faster and stable unlike RESTful services, this application can restrict data being fetched from the server.

RESTful API at some point over-fetch or under-fetch data unlike GraphQL.

Use GraphQL and get many resources in a single request:GraphQL queries help to smoothly retrieve associated business objects, while typical RESTful APIs require loading from multiple URLS.

GraphQL can be quick even on a slow mobile network connection.

Descriptions of what is possible with a type system.

GraphQL is strongly typed and the queries are based on fields and their associated data types.

If there's type mismatch in a GraphQL query,server applications return clear and helpful error messages. This helps in smooth debugging and easy detection of bugs by client applications.

GraphQL also provide client side libraries that can help in reducing explicit data conversion and parsing.

GraphQL move faster with powerful developer tools.

GraphQL provide rich developer tools for documentation and testing queries.

GraphQL is an excellent tool which generates documentation of the query and it's schema.

It also gives a query editor to test GraphQL APIs and intelligent code completion capability while building queries.

Another important concept of GraphQL is that it transport layer agnostics(polymorphic,modular,pluggable etc.)

That is unaware or noncommittal regarding the specific nature of the components, and it can be used with any available network protocol like TCP, web socket or any other transport layer protocol.

It's also neutral to database, so you can use it with relational or NOSQL databases.

GraphQL server can be deployed by using any of these three methods:

a. GraphQL server with connected database.

b. GraphQL server that integrates existing system.

c. GraphQL can be used with hybrid approach.

GraphQL application components.

Server-side components: The GraphQL server forms the core component on the server side and allows to parse the queries coming from GraphQL client applications. Apollo server is most commonly used implementation of GraphQL specification. Other server components are schema,query and resolvers.

Client-side components: GraphQL browser base interface for editing and testing GraphQL queries and mutations. Apollo client is the best tool to build GraphQL client applications. It works well with all JavaScript front-end. The web server is built on NodeJS and express framework.

The difference between GraphiQL and GraphQL

The GraphiQL is describe as an in-browser IDE for exploring GraphQL. While GraphQL is a data query language and runtime.

Mutation.

Mutation queries modify data in the data store and return a value. It can be used to insert, update , or delete data. Mutation is defined as a part of the schema.

GraphQL operations can either be a read or write operation, a GraphQL query is used to read or fetch values while a mutation is used to write or post values. The operation is a simple string that a GraphQL server can parse and respond to with a data in a specific format. The popular response usually used for mobile and web applications is Json.

Conclusion.

GraphQL is here to make life easier for developers and also save time, cost, etc. With its unique way in fetching data, knowing exactly what to expect before making your query. It also fits in well with those that have existing systems, like companies that have legacy infrastructure and different APIs, GraphQL can be used to unify microservices, legacy infrastructure and third-party APIs in existing system. It also help in smooth debugging and easy detection of bugs by client applications.

I will recommend GraphQL for anybody building a long-term project, GraphQL is your power tool. Because it provides a rich developer tools for documentation and testing queries GraphQL is just the best for now.