How to Install GraphQL in Node JS

GraphQL is a tool for APIs that lets clients request only the data they need, making data easier to work with.  It was originally developed by Facebook. It helps developers organize data on the server, so clients can flexibly request it. Unlike REST APIs, which use fixed paths to get data, GraphQL allows clients to ask for specific information in one request, improving speed and avoiding extra or missing data.

In this tutorial, we’ll demonstrate how to install and set up a GraphQL API server in NodeJS.

Installing GraphQL in NodeJS

You can install GraphQL in Node.js by setting up a project directory, initializing Node.js, installing GraphQL with required dependencies, and creating a basic GraphQL server for testing queries. 

Follow the below-given steps to get started with GraphQL in a Node.js environment efficiently:

Step 1:  Prerequisites

You must have a basic understanding of JavaScript and Node.js. Also, Node.js and npm are prerequisites for working with GraphQL. They provide the runtime environment to install and manage GraphQL libraries and tools. The node package manager GraphQL simplifies this process.

To check if Node.js and npm are installed, you can run the following command in the terminal:

node -v && npm -v

You can follow this guide to learn how to install Node.js and check Node.js version.

Step 2: Create a Project Directory for GraphQL

Now set the GraphQL environment by creating a directory named graphql-example using the following command:

mkdir graphql-example

After creating the desired directory, run the following command to access that directory:

cd graphql-example

Step 3: Initialize a Node.js Project

Once a workspace is set up, run the below-provided npm command to initialize your project for GraphQL install NodeJS:

npm init -y

Step 4: Install GraphQL Nodejs

Once you’re in your project directory, you can install the necessary GraphQL dependencies with the following command:

npm install graphql express express-graphql

This command installs the GraphQL library for schema definition and query execution, Express for handling HTTP requests, and express-graphql for integrating GraphQL with Express:

Step 5: Set Up a Basic GraphQL Server 

Now create a new file with the following command to set up a basic GraphQL server: 

touch graphqlFile.txt

Open the file in an editor like Nano and specify the following script into it:

var { graphql, buildSchema } = require("graphql");
var customSchema = buildSchema(`
  type Query {
    greeting: String
  }
`);

var resolver = {
  greeting() {
    return "Hi, Welcome to Ultahost.com!";
  }
};
graphql({
  schema: customSchema,
  source: "{ greeting }",
  rootValue: resolver
}).then(response => {
  console.log(response);
});

This code sets up a simple GraphQL server by defining a schema with a single query, greeting, which returns a string. The resolver function for greeting returns a welcome message. Finally, the GraphQL function executes the query { greeting } using the schema and resolver and logs the response.

Step 6: Test GraphQL Queries

Finally, run the graphqlFile.js file using the Node.js. It executes the code within the file, which is useful for testing or running GraphQL server setups and queries defined in the specified file:

node graphqlFile.js

That’s all about installing and setting up GraphQL in NodeJS.

Conclusion

GraphQL is a useful tool for APIs that lets clients request only the data they need, which makes data retrieval more efficient. To install and set up GraphQL in Node.js, first, create a project directory, initialize your Node.js environment, install the required dependencies, and set up a basic GraphQL server to test your queries. In this article, we covered the steps to install GraphQL in Node.js. Finally, we set up a basic GraphQL server and tested the queries, giving you the basics to start using GraphQL effectively.

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