GraphQL (Graph Query Language) as you may have guessed from the hint in parentheses, is a Query Language, specifically for APIs. A query language is a method of communication for the retrieval of information from a database. In other words, GraphQL allows you to transfer information from a server to a front.
GraphQL is like an a la carte menu at a restaurant.
Imagine that you are at a restaurant and you want to order food. The menu represents the API, and the dishes on the menu represent the data that is available to you through the API. With a traditional API, you might have to order a set meal with a fixed set of items, similar to how you would order a prix fixe menu at a restaurant. The items on the prix fixe menu are predetermined by the chef and you don't have much control over what you get.
With GraphQL, it's like you can order a la carte. You can specify exactly which items you want and how you want them prepared, and the kitchen will prepare your order exactly to your specifications.
You have more control over what you receive and you only get what you need, rather than getting a set of items that you may not want or need.
GraphQL is a query language and server-side runtime for application programming interfaces (APIs) that prioritizes giving clients exactly the data they request and no more. GraphQL is designed to make APIs fast, flexible, and developer-friendly.
It's one thing to know what GraphQL is, but that is worthless if you don't know why you should know what GraphQL is in the first place. Let's break down the importance of this tech term based on two high level categories. We'll walk through an explanation as well as provide a score, 1-10, that shows you how much you should care about GraphQL.
The first will be if you do not have a product yet. This means that you don't have a physical product. Maybe you're in the ideation phase, or maybe you're almost ready to start development. Whichever it is, we'll get into why GraphQL is important and why you should or shouldn't care about it if you do not have a product.
If you don't have a product then you don't really need to worry too much about GraphQL or what API technologies you plan on using.
The second category is if you do have a live product. Maybe you just launched your business or maybe it's been live for years and you're continuing to improve its quality. Regardless of the scenario, if your product is live, GraphQL carries a different weight.
If you're looking to leverage APIs within your application, then be sure to speak with your developer about whether GraphQL is the right API of choice for you.
So you know what GraphQL is, by definition. You know if you should care about it or not depending on your situation as a business/company/product. To dig in deeper, we will walk through five examples so we can make sure you really have a solid grasp on GraphQL.