Do you know what is GraphQL In AWS? If you don’t, read this AWS GraphQL Tutorial article to learn all about this application’s programming interface language and its uses and benefits.
Digital applications, whether they are web or mobile, have revolutionized the world. Two decades ago, even imagining that you would be able to perform any task you wanted from the comfort of your palm was a wild thought.
However, (API) languages like GraphQL have made it possible.
In the years gone by, many people used to think that the invention of Television was a significant advancement.
They felt that spreading information far and wide on Television was unrivaled; however, little did they know that the Internet would overshine that in a matter of years.
With the rise of the Internet and the technological development of web and mobile applications, information can now be accessed worldwide in seconds.
Internet is quicker, more convenient, and cheaper than broadcasting television, and the reason for it is the languages it uses, like GraphQL.
What is GraphQL?
GraphQL is an application programming interface language. In laymen’s terms, you can describe that as the communication tool the application uses to communicate its requirements.
Queries like which data they want, why they want, where, how much they want, etc., are all communicated using GraphQL language.
A GraphQL language lets the application know what its consumer is demanding to know. It allows them to sort and present the data which the user requests.
Job of GraphQL
The core job of GraphQL language is to fetch data consumers are requesting from servers. However, they have other jobs as well. For example, jobs like
- Storing data,
- Managing it,
- Sorting it, and
- Presenting it in the requested form also fall under the domain of the GraphQL job.
Functions GraphQL Can Perform
Although GraphQL language is utilized to perform a host of functions, the following are the most critical out of all of them:
1. Helps Manage Data the Way You Want
The importance of data in 2022 is known to every single person. Data is the factor that can make or break your application/business.
If you know how you can correctly harness the power of data to your advantage, you use data to scale success like never before.
This is precisely what all the mega applications of current times do, and we believe they can do that thanks to the service GraphQL language serves.
GraphQL can help identify, fetch and present the exact data requested. Regardless of how many Terabytes of data you might have stored on the server.
GraphQL can identify what you are looking for and present it exactly as you are looking for.
2. Saves Battery Life by Reducing Process
Another function GraphQL can complete for you, especially while using a mobile application, is that it can save your phone battery.
It can perform this function by reducing the process required to retrieve data from servers when you type in a query.
Therefore, as a consequence of chain reaction, the less time searching for the requested query takes, the lesser the battery power is consumed, and the more your phone battery will be saved.
3. Data Can Easily be Updated & Modified
The most vital function GraphQL can perform for your application is that it can easily update and modify the data available on servers and your application.
GraphQL Use Cases
Now that you know what GraphQL is, its job, and the various functions it can perform for you, the next topic we would like to discuss is where and how you can use this function.
1. Social Media Applications
GraphQL is especially useful for you when using it for social media applications.
It is critical here because social media applications require both real-life data and offline data access, and this language enables you to access all of this data simultaneously.
With a single query, you can access whatever type of data you require to adequately manage and implement your application.
2. Data Heavy Applications
Data-heavy applications like various eCommerce apps also require extensive use of GraphQL language.
They need this because this language creates only a single access point for all the data, and data-heavy applications require a lot of data to be functional and too quickly, which only GraphQL can provide.
3. Application Backend Process
The final significant use, according to us, GraphQL has is in the application backend process. The backend for every application includes all of the application data and its backup files.
This can be classified as a data city where data is required at a brisk pace and regularly, and fulfill this demand they need a reliable source like GraphQL.
Reasons to Use GraphQL Over Other Languages
There are many application programming interface (API) languages, then why should you use GraphQL? If you don’t know the answer, read our reasons below to understand why:
1. Expedites Your Application Development
GraphQL’s primary job is to provide you with access to the data required, and that too swiftly.
Hence, one of the reasons you should use GraphQL over other API languages is because it expedites the development of your application.
2. Flexible Customization of Your Data
GraphQL is the only application programming interface language that allows you to customize your data request.
You can refine your request to how little or vast data you need. Whether you need real-life data or offline data with them, anything is possible because the choices are genuinely limitless.
3. Complete & Centralized Data Management
You should use GraphQL over other (API) languages because it provides you with complete and centralized data management. What, when, where, and why they can answer all your queries and that too in a flash.
Benefits of Using GraphQL
The following are the significant benefits GraphQL serves you when you choose it:
1. Provides You with the Exact Data You Require
Regardless of its user base, every application has a lot of data. Only the data required to build it can be overwhelming. So, imagine when it starts collecting millions of users’ data daily, then how difficult it would be to manage it?
Thankfully you don’t need to worry about it because one of the significant benefits of using GraphQL is providing you with the exact data you require.
It helps you find what you are looking for, how much you are looking for, and when you are looking for it.
2. Can Retire Multiple Files in Single Request
The second and another impressive benefit you get when you use GraphQL is that it can retrieve multiple files for you with a single request. Do you need online and offline data simultaneously? GraphQL can provide that to you in a blink of an eye.
3. Simplifies Data Management & Fetching For You
Data management for applications is a big deal because when the data required by the application is managed in a sequence and clean manner, it can perform its functions quickly.
If it is muddled, then it will experience lag. GraphQL simplifies data management & data fetching for you, and in our experience, it is a significant benefit they serve you.
4. Customize Request
GraphQL allows you to create and request as many customized requests as possible. This means that whatever or how much data you require, they can search that for you.
5. Extensive Error Explanation
According to us, the final benefit, GraphQL serves you is that if for some reason your searched query is failed, its dashboard provides you with a detailed error failure explanation. You know where you went wrong and what you need to do to fix it through this.
Drawbacks of Using GraphQL
GraphQL is an incredible application programming interface language. Yet, we believe they aren’t perfect; hence, the following are their drawbacks
1. Struggles with Complex Queries
Even though GraphQL can process your multiple queries simultaneously, the catch for them to be performed is to be simple in nature. If queries requested are complex, GraphQL can struggle to implement them.
2. Poor Web Catching
GraphQL is excellent at fetching your application or offline data wherever it may be. Still, you need to brace yourself for mistakes if you request data to be fetched from the web, as poor web catching is a significant drawback.
3. Difficult to getting Hang Of Initially
Once you know how to implement and run GraphQL properly, then using it will be a cake for you. However, we have experienced that it is difficult to get the hang of initially for a new user.
graphQL vs. rest API
| GraphQL | Rest API |
| In this case, the request goes to the client as a query | In this case, the request goes to client as a query |
| In the case of Graph, we can send a query in a single request and can get multiple responses in JSON files. | In Rest, we send a single request and get the response |
| A schema has to be defined to run the GraphQL queries, this schema defines how the client will query the data. | With REST we can directly hit the client with the required information |
graphql Vs AWS amplify
AWS Amplify uses Rest API so basically the difference is the same as that of GraphQl and Rest API.
graphql AWS lambda
Lambda GraphQL gives you the interface for fetching selective data as per your requirement.
Along with that, you will also get a runtime for pulling the data with queries.
Below steps will help you set up the GraphQL Lambda setup.
- First start by building the GraphQl server – In this step you have to set up the handler, resolvers, and schema.
- You have to also set up the serverless file that will define the lambda details and the event which is the graphql.
- Next, deploy it into your AWS account. We are done!!
Core Benefits of using GraphQL?
The following are the core benefits of using GraphQL:
| Benefits of Using GraphQL |
| Fetches You Required Data |
| Allows You Customization in Your Requests |
| Works At A Rapid Pace |
Which type of application should I use GraphQL on?
The following are the types of applications you should use GraphQL on:
| Types of Application To Use GraphQL On |
| Social Media Applications |
| E-commerce Applications |
| Geosocial Networking Applications |
FAQs of What is GraphQL
The following are the most FAQs of GraphQL
Q: What Is GraphQL?
GraphQL is an application programming interface language.
Q: What Service Can GraphQL Provide Me?
The core job of GraphQL language is to fetch data consumers are requesting from servers.
Q: What AWS Service Is GraphQL Part Of?
AWS AppSync is the service offered by Amazon Web Services, of which GraphQL is part.
Q: Is AWS graphql database?
No GraphQL is not a database. This is just the middleman between your application and your data source.
Q: AWS graphql examples?
GraphQL can be used anywhere in place of Rest API. So the examples are infinite. You have just to define your schema and modify the application to fetch data with queries instead of HTTP requests as we do in the case of Rest API.
Q: What are the graphql alternatives?
Rest API is the alternative to GraphQL.
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Bottom Line
Whether web or mobile applications. In the modern age, both have provided our lives with unrivaled conveniences.
One of the significant reasons they can give this convenience is because of application programming interface languages like GraphQL.
We have explained What is GraphQL in great detail. So please go through this article and let us know what you think about them and their operations.
I am an Amazon Web Services Professional, having more than 11 years of experience in AWS and other technologies. Extensively working in various AWS tools like S3, Lambda, API, Kinesis, Load Balancers, EKS, ECS, and many more. Working as a Solution Architect and Technology Lead for Architecting and implementing the same for different clients. He provides expert solutions around the world and especially in countries like the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Check out the complete profile on About us.
