Examples
Node.js GraphQL API
Building a GraphQL API
Node.js GraphQL API with Apollo Server handles typed queries.
Introduction to GraphQL and Apollo Server
GraphQL is a powerful query language for APIs that allows clients to request exactly the data they need, making it more efficient than traditional REST APIs. Apollo Server is a popular open-source library that makes it easy to set up a GraphQL server in Node.js.
In this tutorial, we'll walk through the process of setting up a basic GraphQL API using Node.js and Apollo Server. We'll also create a simple query to demonstrate how you can fetch data from the server.
Setting Up the Project
To get started, you'll need to have Node.js and npm installed on your machine. Begin by creating a new directory for your project and initializing it with npm:
Next, install the necessary packages, including Apollo Server and GraphQL:
Creating a Basic Apollo Server
Now that we have our project set up, we can create a simple Apollo Server. Create an index.js file in your project directory and add the following code:
Running Your GraphQL Server
To start your server, run the following command in your terminal:
Your Apollo Server should now be running. You can navigate to the URL provided in the terminal (typically http://localhost:4000/) to access the GraphQL Playground, a powerful in-browser IDE for exploring your GraphQL API.
Testing a Query
In the GraphQL Playground, you can test your API by executing the following query:
This query asks for the hello field, which, according to our resolver, will return the string "Hello world!".
You have now successfully created a basic GraphQL API using Node.js and Apollo Server!
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