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GraphQL for React Developers

Roy Derks

Developer, author (Fullstack GraphQL, React & React Native books) and public speaker

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There are many advantages to using GraphQL as a datasource for frontend development, compared to REST APIs. We developers in example need to write a lot of imperative code to retrieve data to display in our applications and handle state. With GraphQL you cannot only decrease the amount of code needed around data fetching and state-management you'll also get increased flexibility, better performance and most of all an improved developer experience. In this workshop you'll learn how GraphQL can improve your work as a frontend developer and how to handle GraphQL in your frontend React application.

What's included:

1. Getting started with GraphQL

2. GraphQL Queries

3. Mutating Data

4. GraphQL in React

5. Using a GraphQL Client

This workshop has been presented at React Day Berlin 2022, check out the latest edition of this React Conference.

FAQ

GraphQL is a query language for APIs and a runtime for executing those queries with your existing data. In the workshop, participants learn to use GraphQL for building front-end projects, specifically focusing on how to interact with a GraphQL API to fetch and manipulate data efficiently.

No, to use GraphQL, you must also have a GraphQL backend. The workshop provides a pre-built GraphQL API, allowing participants to focus on the frontend aspects without worrying about backend setup.

The workshop includes building a front-end project that interacts with a GraphQL API. Participants learn how to set up GraphQL clients, use GraphQL for data fetching, and possibly integrate TypeScript if time allows.

Workshop materials are available in a GitHub repository. Participants can access all materials, including solution branches for exercises, by following a link provided in the workshop, which they can bookmark for later use.

GraphQL differs from REST in that it uses a single endpoint through which all data fetches are made, allowing requests to be tailored to retrieve only the necessary data. In contrast, REST APIs typically require calls to multiple endpoints to fetch different pieces of data and return fixed data structures.

Authentication in the workshop's GraphQL setup is handled through API keys when setting up the GraphQL client. Participants can use these keys to interact securely with the provided GraphQL API.

Apollo Client is used in the workshop as a comprehensive state management library for JavaScript that enables participants to manage both local and remote data with GraphQL. It simplifies building user interfaces by handling data fetching, caching, and UI updates in response to data changes.

GraphQL supports real-time data handling through subscriptions, which are used for live or real-time data updates. Subscriptions allow a client to listen to specific data changes and update the UI in response without needing to refresh the page.

react graphql

Roy Derks

113 min

07 Dec, 2022

Comments

Video Summary and Transcription

Today's workshop focuses on GraphQL for front-end developers. It explains the advantages of using GraphQL over REST APIs, such as having a single endpoint and flexible data structures. The workshop covers topics like running queries, using relational fields, setting up the GraphQL API, and using Apollo Client. It also introduces mutations for updating data and automatic data refresh using the Refetch Queries option. The workshop emphasizes the use of GraphQL Code Generator to generate TypeScript types based on the GraphQL schema.

Available in Español: GraphQL para Desarrolladores de React

Video transcription and chapters available for users with access.

Available in other languages:

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