GraphQL is a query language and runtime environment developed to create more efficient, flexible, and performant Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). It was created by Facebook and was initially used internally in 2012 before being made available to the public in 2015.
In contrast to traditional REST APIs, where the client calls various endpoints to retrieve or manipulate different resources, GraphQL allows the client to request precisely the data it needs, all in a single query. This minimizes overfetching (retrieving too much data) and underfetching (retrieving too little data), reducing network latency and improving data transmission efficiency.
GraphQL provides the following key features:
Flexibility: The client defines the required data in the query, allowing it to retrieve only the fields needed and avoiding wasting bandwidth or processing time on unnecessary data.
Type System: GraphQL defines a schema that describes the data structure. This allows for a clear definition of what data can be queried and what relationships exist between the data.
Queries and Mutations: GraphQL enables the grouping of queries (for reading data) and mutations (for changing data) within a single query, improving consistency and performance.
Real-time Communication: GraphQL supports subscriptions, allowing real-time response to changes and receiving push notifications from servers.
Development Tools: GraphQL offers powerful development tools such as introspection, allowing developers to explore and verify the schema.
GraphQL is used by many major companies and platforms, including Facebook, GitHub, Shopify, and more. It has proven to be a powerful alternative to traditional REST APIs and is often employed in modern applications and services to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of data querying and manipulation.
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