Developed by Facebook, GraphQL is an open-source data query language for APIs and a runtime for fulfilling queries on existing data and use for Application Programming Interfaces (or APIs). GraphQL enables a complete and understandable data description in your existing API. Enabling declarative data fetching from an API empowers the client to ask for specific data they need and nothing more as well as nothing less.
It helps APIs to evolve gradually with time to turn into powerful developer tools. GraphQL server only exposes a single endpoint rather than multiple endpoints to respond with precise data presented in a specific graph or schema as the client asks. The heart of GraphQL lies in these schema or application data graphs.
At first, these graphs of circles and lines seem confusing; however, careful observation can help to understand easily. The circles are ‘nodes,’ and the lines are ‘edges’ where ‘edge’ connects two ‘nodes’ for a meaningful relationship. These ‘nodes’ are the specific piece of data, and ‘edge’ allows accessing the relationship among these data pieces.
We now have a basic understanding of GraphQL, its functions, and the application data graph. Let’s understand the emergence of GraphQL and why developers should look forward to GraphQL.
GraphQL is designed and developed to pace up the Application Programming Interfaces (or APIs) and boost their performance, flexibility, and effectiveness. Here, we have some more reasons that keep GraphQL at the top of the list.
GraphQL is a database-agnostic query language for APIs, so where an API is used, GraphQL can also be used in a similar context. Before the emergence and growing use of GraphQL in the developers’ community, REST was there for use along with APIs. However, REST architecture is outdated and less sophisticated than GraphQL.
GraphQL has many advantages and turned out to be a solution for the flaws of older analogs like REST. Here, we have a quick comparison of GraphQl and REST; so developers can easily pick the best choice for their app development projects.
| Comparison Factor | REST Query | GraphQL Query |
| Data Fetching | In REST, the server defines fixed endpoints that return predefined data structures. Clients have limited control over the shape and amount of data returned. | Clients can send a query specifying the exact data they need, allowing them to retrieve only the required information in a single request. |
| Over-fetching and Under-fetching | Over-fetching occurs when an endpoint returns more data than the client needs. Under-fetching happens when a specific endpoint does not provide all the required data. | Minimizes over-fetching and under-fetching by allowing clients to request precisely the data they need. |
| Versioning | When changes are made to the data structure or behavior of REST endpoints, new versions need to be created. | Clients can evolve their queries over time without relying on versioning. |
| Flexibility | Adding new features or data requires creating new endpoints. | GraphQL provides a single endpoint, and clients can request the specific fields, relationships, and actions they need. |
Advancement of GraphQL compared to REST and SOAP API makes it a better replacement for these older analogs, so it has been introduced by Magento 2 as a comprehensive GraphQL implementation, supporting queries and mutations (Subscription is unavailable in Magento).
The primary use of GraphQL in Magento 2 is for developing Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) with its ready-made API solutions. It is designed as modular and extensible, allowing customization to fit your specific requirements.
Its wide range of queries and mutations enables seamless interactions with various Magento entities, such as products, customers, orders, and more. The latest Magento version supports various shipping methods and successfully achieves below 0.5 seconds as the standard response time with 500 simultaneous requests run in one go.
GraphQL enhances the performance of applications by boosting up APIs. With these capabilities, its customization capability can be used as an advanced and enhanced performance tailor-made to specific applications. Developers can refer to these codes here and learn. For more, it is recommended to follow the Skill session: GraphQL in Magento 2 here.
GraphQL brings advanced API development capabilities for Magento 2 developers and positively impacts the development process. GraphQL is a good fit for various complex systems and microservices (especially migration from monolithic architecture). It fetches data with a single API call for faster app performance, auto-sync documentation with API development and changes provides detailed errors, and more.
GraphQL is much faster, feature-rich, intuitive, intelligent, and flexible, with reusable code capability. It supports all kinds of products, default payment methods, and various shipping methods and comes with new designs and features for creating API for all client requirements. GraphQL changed the way API development used to be with older analogs.
We understand that the core of any application lies in the app data graph, and earlier, it took a lot of work to reach these application graphs. GraphQL made a significant difference here for developers as its backend provides a detailed error message of the application graph.
In a nutshell, GraphQL is an advanced query language for APIs with many advantages, including being faster, flexible, customizable, and capable of providing accurate data response in single query call compared to earlier analogs like REST and SOAP API. Yet, it would be too early to claim GraphQL is a perfect replacement for other analogs, but it could be considered a great alternative.
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Minal Joshi is a content marketer at Krish with a flair for eCommerce and Digital Commerce aspects. She is a MarTech fanatic with a knack of writing with which, she helps brands to curate, create, & commence digital brand positioning. Sharing insights via articles, case studies, eBooks, Infographics, and other forms of content creation is what she lives for. Being an ardent traveler, when not writing, you'll find her sipping coffee into the mountains or petting a stray.
29 April, 2024 We at Krish are bustling with joy and pride as SelectedFirms has recognized us as one of the leading Magento development companies in the UAE. (April 2024)
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