Get Your GraphQL Groove On with AWS AppSync
Tags: api, aws, serverless, cloudcomputing
Published: 2023-01-09 18:50:30

---
title: Get Your GraphQL Groove On with AWS AppSync
published: true
date: 2023-01-08 18:43:29 UTC
tags: API,AWS,Serverless,CloudComputing
canonical_url: https://techdevblog.io/get-your-graphql-groove-on-with-aws-appsync/
---

 ![Get Your GraphQL Groove On with AWS AppSync](https://techdevblog.io/content/images/2023/01/image_3-get-your-graphql-groove-on-with-aws-appsync.jpg)

Welcome to our guide on [AWS AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/)! In this article, we will introduce you to the basics of [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) and its key features, as well as provide some best practices for using the service. We will also compare [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) to another popular [AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/) service, [API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/), and explain the differences between the two. Whether you are new to [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) or are just looking to learn more, this guide should provide you with the information you need to get started.

## Introduction

[AWS AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) is a fully managed serverless GraphQL service that simplifies application development by allowing developers to create flexible APIs to securely access, manipulate, and combine data from one or more data sources.

## Key Features

Some of the key features of [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) include:

- Real-time data updates: With [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/), you can build applications that automatically update in real-time as the data changes. This is achieved through the use of GraphQL subscriptions, which allow the client to specify a set of data fields that it wants to be notified about whenever there is a change.
- Offline support: [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) makes it easy to build applications that work seamlessly even when the device is offline. It does this by automatically caching data locally and synchronizing changes with the server when the device comes back online.
- Custom resolvers: [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) allows you to write custom resolvers in any language that runs on [AWS Lambda](https://aws.amazon.com/lambda/). This means you can use [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) to access any data source, not just those natively supported by the service.
- Security: [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) integrates with [Amazon Cognito](https://aws.amazon.com/cognito/) for secure user authentication and authorization. It also supports [AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM)](https://aws.amazon.com/iam/) for fine-grained access control to your data sources.

## Best Practices

Here are a few best practices for using AWS [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/):

- Use [Cognito](https://aws.amazon.com/cognito/) for secure user authentication and authorization: [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) integrates with [Amazon Cognito](https://aws.amazon.com/cognito/), which makes it easy to add secure authentication and authorization to your application.
- Leverage resolver mapping templates: [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) allows you to use resolver mapping templates to transform and manipulate data before it is returned to the client. This can be a powerful tool for optimizing performance and customizing the data that is returned.
- Use GraphQL fragments to improve reuse and maintainability: GraphQL fragments allow you to define a set of fields that can be reused across multiple queries, mutations, and subscriptions. This can help to improve the reuse and maintainability of your GraphQL schema.
- Use GraphQL variables to reduce the number of requests: GraphQL variables allow you to pass dynamic values to your GraphQL queries, which can help to reduce the number of requests that your client needs to make.
- Use the [AWS Amplify](https://aws.amazon.com/amplify/) library to simplify development: The [AWS Amplify](https://aws.amazon.com/amplify/) library is a powerful tool that can help you quickly and easily build cloud-powered applications with [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/). It provides a set of libraries, UI components, and a CLI that make it easy to add [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) to your application.

Now, let's compare [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) to [AWS API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/). Both services allow you to create APIs for your applications, but there are some key differences to consider when deciding which one to use.

## [AWS AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) and [API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/)

One of the main differences between the two is the type of API they support. [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) is specifically designed for GraphQL APIs, while [API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/) can be used to create RESTful APIs. This means that if you are building a GraphQL-based application, [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) is the natural choice. On the other hand, if you are building a traditional REST-based application, [API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/) may be a better fit.

Another difference between the two is the level of control and customization they offer. AppSync allows you to write custom resolvers and manipulate the data in any way you want, while, despite it's VTL Mapping Templates, [API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/) is more of a "black box" that takes your API request and passes it to the backend service. This means that with [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/), you have more control over the data that is returned to the client, but it also means that you have to do more work to set it up.

## Alternatives

There are a few, most of them partial, alternatives to [AWS AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) offered by other cloud providers:

- [Hasura](https://hasura.io): [Hasura](https://hasura.io) is a open-source GraphQL engine that can be used to build real-time, high-performance APIs. It is similar to AWS [AWS AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) in that it allows developers to build GraphQL-based APIs and provides real-time updates through the use of subscriptions. However, [Hasura](https://hasura.io) is self-hosted, while [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) is a fully managed service offered by [AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/).
- [Prisma](https://www.prisma.io/): This is an open-source database toolkit that helps developers build scalable, high-performance APIs. It is similar to [AWS AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) in that it allows developers to build GraphQL-based APIs and provides real-time updates through the use of subscriptions. However, [Prisma](https://www.prisma.io/) is focused on simplifying database management and does not offer the same level of serverless integration and managed services as [AWS AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/).
- [Google Cloud Firestore](https://cloud.google.com/firestore): This is a NoSQL document database that integrates with [Google Cloud](https://cloud.google.com/)'s serverless platform, [Cloud Functions](https://cloud.google.com/functions). Like [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/), it offers real-time updates and offline support, but it is designed for use with SDKs & traditional REST APIs rather than GraphQL.
- [Azure Cosmos DB](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/cosmos-db/): This is a globally distributed, multi-model database service offered by [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/). It supports several APIs, including GraphQL, and offers real-time updates through the use of change feed notifications.
- [MongoDB Atlas](https://www.mongodb.com/use-cases/serverless): This is a serverless platform offered by [MongoDB](https://www.mongodb.com) that allows you to easily build and deploy backend services for your applications. It supports GraphQL and offers real-time updates through the use of triggers.

## Conclusion

In summary, [AppSync](https://aws.amazon.com/appsync/) is a great choice if you are building a GraphQL-based application and need real-time updates, offline support, and the ability to customize the data that is returned to the client. On the other hand, if you are building a traditional REST-based application and don't need as much control over the data, [API Gateway](https://aws.amazon.com/api-gateway/) may be a better fit.

<!--kg-card-end: markdown-->