Question 1

How to implement batched resolution in Absinthe to avoid N+1 queries?

Accepted Answer

Absinthe provides built-in support for batched resolution through its Dataloader integration or custom batching plugins. You can define batch functions that aggregate queries to reduce database calls, with examples in the official documentation on advanced resolution features.

Question 2

Absinthe vs Apollo Server for Elixir GraphQL APIs?

Accepted Answer

Absinthe is Elixir-native with compile-time safety and idiomatic APIs, ideal for Elixir/Phoenix projects. Apollo Server is JavaScript-based and better for Node.js ecosystems, offering more frontend tooling but less integration with Elixir-specific features.

Question 3

Does Absinthe support subscriptions for real-time updates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Absinthe supports GraphQL subscriptions through its Phoenix integration, enabling real-time updates. Setup involves configuring Phoenix channels and Absinthe's subscription handlers, as detailed in the framework support documentation.

Question 4

How to handle authentication and authorization in Absinthe?

Accepted Answer

Authentication can be managed via Plug middleware or context in Absinthe schemas, while authorization uses custom resolvers or plugins. The pluggable pipeline allows inserting security checks at various stages, with guides available on the website.

Question 5

Can I use Absinthe without Phoenix?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Absinthe works with Plug for non-Phoenix Elixir applications, providing basic HTTP handling. However, advanced features like subscriptions may require Phoenix, so it's best for simple APIs or when integrating with other frameworks.

Question 6

What are the performance benchmarks for Absinthe compared to other GraphQL servers?

Accepted Answer

Absinthe leverages Elixir's BEAM VM for concurrency and compile-time optimizations, often showing strong performance in throughput. Specific benchmarks are community-driven and vary by use case, with details sometimes shared in GitHub discussions or blog posts.

Absinthe Graphql

What is Absinthe Graphql?

Overview

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Frequently Asked Questions