Question 1

How do I build a GraphQL server with GraphQL.js?

Accepted Answer

You need to define a schema programmatically using GraphQL.js APIs, then integrate it with an HTTP server like Express. The README shows basic schema setup, but for a full server, you must add middleware to handle requests and responses separately.

Question 2

GraphQL.js vs Apollo Server: which is better?

Accepted Answer

GraphQL.js is the low-level foundation for spec compliance and custom tools, while Apollo Server is a higher-level framework with built-in features like caching, subscriptions, and IDE integration. Choose GraphQL.js for maximum control or Apollo for faster development.

Question 3

Can I use GraphQL.js in a React app?

Accepted Answer

Yes, GraphQL.js can run in browsers and is used by tools like GraphiQL, but for client-side data fetching in React, libraries like Apollo Client or Relay are more common as they handle caching and UI integration, whereas GraphQL.js focuses on query execution.

Question 4

What are the @defer and @stream directives in GraphQL.js?

Accepted Answer

They are experimental features for incremental data delivery, allowing parts of a query to be deferred or streamed. GraphQL.js provides special releases for testing them, but they're not yet part of the official spec and require community feedback.

Question 5

Is GraphQL.js production-ready?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely—it's the most trusted implementation for production use, but the README cautions to set NODE_ENV=production to disable development checks and ensure performance. Regular updates and foundation backing make it stable for critical systems.

Question 6

How to handle authentication with GraphQL.js?

Accepted Answer

GraphQL.js doesn't include authentication; you must implement it yourself in resolvers or via middleware. For example, check tokens in context objects passed during query execution, similar to how REST APIs handle auth, but without built-in helpers.

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