GraphQL clients

GraphQL clients are libraries or tools that enable client-side applications to interact with a GraphQL API. They provide functionalities like sending GraphQL queries, mutations, and subscriptions, managing local cache, and often integrating with UI frameworks to simplify data fetching and state…

Key facts

First appeared
2015
Category
technology
Problem solved
GraphQL clients solve the challenges of over-fetching (receiving more data than needed), under-fetching (requiring multiple requests for related data), and the rigid structure of traditional REST APIs. They enable declarative data fetching, allowing clients to request precisely the data they need in a single roundtrip, greatly simplifying client-side data management and reducing network overhead.
Platforms
Android (Kotlin/Java clients like Apollo Android), Electron, Node.js (server-side rendering, command-line tools), iOS (Swift/Objective-C clients like Apollo iOS), Web browsers (via JavaScript/TypeScript), React Native

Related technologies

Notable users

  • Facebook (Meta)
  • New Relic
  • GitHub
  • Twitter
  • Netflix
  • Shopify
  • PayPal
  • Airbnb
  • The New York Times