Intermediate55 minBackend

GraphQL API Development

Build flexible, powerful APIs with GraphQL and Apollo Server

Introduction

GraphQL is a query language for APIs that gives clients the power to ask for exactly what they need. Unlike REST where you might need multiple endpoints, GraphQL uses a single endpoint with a flexible query language, making it perfect for modern applications with complex data requirements.

In this tutorial, you'll build a complete GraphQL API using Apollo Server and Node.js. You'll learn how to design schemas, write resolvers, implement mutations and subscriptions, and follow best practices for production-ready GraphQL APIs.

What You'll Learn

GraphQL fundamentals and advantages

Setting up Apollo Server with Node.js

Defining GraphQL schemas and types

Writing queries and mutations

Implementing resolvers

GraphQL subscriptions for real-time data

Authentication and authorization

Data loading patterns and DataLoader

Error handling in GraphQL

GraphQL vs REST comparison

Performance optimization techniques

Deploying GraphQL APIs to production

Prerequisites

•Solid understanding of JavaScript and Node.js
•Experience with REST APIs recommended
•Basic understanding of databases
•Familiarity with async/await patterns

Tutorial Outline

1. GraphQL Basics

→Understanding GraphQL philosophy
→Schema Definition Language (SDL)
→Queries vs Mutations vs Subscriptions
→Type system overview

2. Apollo Server Setup

→Installing Apollo Server
→Creating your first schema
→Writing basic resolvers
→Testing with Apollo Playground

3. Advanced Schemas

→Complex types and relationships
→Input types and enums
→Interfaces and unions
→Custom scalars

4. Data Sources

→Connecting to databases
→REST API integration
→DataLoader for batching
→Caching strategies

5. Real-time with Subscriptions

→Setting up WebSocket server
→Implementing subscriptions
→PubSub patterns
→Real-time notifications

6. Production Best Practices

→Authentication strategies
→Rate limiting and throttling
→Error handling
→Schema stitching and federation

Ready to Build GraphQL APIs?

Learn GraphQL API development with Apollo Server

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Additional Resources

📖 Official GraphQL and Apollo Documentation
📖 GraphQL Best Practices Guide
💻 Complete Code Repository on GitHub
🎥 Video Tutorials and Live Coding Sessions
💬 GraphQL Community and Support