GraphQL is a query language for APIs that uses a type system to define queries and mutations. It originated at Facebook in 2011 to address issues with REST APIs like multiple round trips and misaligned data shapes. GraphQL allows clients to specify exactly what data they need in a single request, making it more efficient than REST. It has gained popularity with over 300 billion requests per day on Facebook and adoption by companies like GitHub for their APIs.

1. Quick Intro to
GraphQL
by Tim ScottOctober 5, 2016

2. • a query language for your API
• a server-side runtime…using a
type system you define
• by Facebook
Source: http://graphql.org/learn/
GraphQL is…

3. Origins at Facebook
2011 present
committed to
mobile (web)
web to native
(data APIs needed)
ouch !

4. REST Pains
• multiple round trips - slow, drops
• mis-aligned / overloaded data shapes
• ever enlarging API
• coupling - code, engineers
• version hell

5. Enter GraphQL
• mind shift:
from resources to graph
• declarative:
types, queries, mutations
• one endpoint:
POST http://www.mysite.com/api/gql

6. GraphQL
type User {
id: Int
name: String
occupation: String
interests: [String]
}

7. {
“me”: {
“name”: “Tim Scott”,
“occupation”: “Independent Consultant”
}
}
{
me {
name
occupation
}
}
GraphQL

8. {
“job”: “Lion Tamer”
}
VARIABLES:
mutation($job: String!) {
me: changeJob(job: $job) {
id
occupation
}
}
MUTATION:
{
“me”: {
“id”: 123,
“occupation”: “Lion Tamer”
}
}
RESULT:
GraphQL

9. SWAPI !

10. What’s So Great About It?
• exact shape for the view in one call
• intuitive FE development - query shape == result shape
• performance optimization
• self documenting - always current
• introspection - code gen, code validation, IDE support
• access patterns change much faster than schemas

11. Status
• mature - over 300B requests per day
• Github just announced GraphQL API rollout
• Server support for most languages
• Relay - React integration, pagination
• PaaS - Reindex, etc.
• client support - GraphiQL, Apollo, etc.

12. Info
• http://graphql.org
• Introduction To GraphQL by Lee Bryon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq02BNrN1dU
• SWAPI playground:
http://graphql-swapi.parseapp.com
{
“me”: {
“name”: “Tim Scott”,
“occupation”: “Independent Consultant”,
“email”: “tscott@lunaversesoftware.com”
}
}