GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows clients to define the structure of the data required and exactly the fields that are needed from the API. It uses a type system to define the data structure and relationships, allowing clients to request specific fields from objects and have the response contain only the requested data. The type system and schema definition language define the types of data available and the relationships between types. Queries are executed by a resolver function that retrieves the necessary data from a database or external API. This allows clients to get predictive and optimal responses from APIs.