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graphql-react

A GraphQL client for React using modern context and hooks APIs that is lightweight (< 3 KB size limited) but powerful; the first Relay and Apollo alternative with server side rendering.

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graphql-react

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A GraphQL client for React using modern context and hooks APIs that is lightweight (< 3 KB size limited) but powerful; the first Relay and Apollo alternative with server side rendering.

Setup

Next.js setup

See the next-graphql-react setup instructions.

Vanilla React setup

To install graphql-react from npm run:

npm install graphql-react

Create a single GraphQL instance and use GraphQLProvider to provide it for your app.

For server side rendering see ssr().

Usage

Use the useGraphQL React hook in your components to make queries and mutations, or use the GraphQL instance method operate directly.

Examples

Here is a basic example that displays a Pokemon image, with tips commented:

import { GraphQL, GraphQLProvider, useGraphQL } from 'graphql-react';
import React from 'react';

// Zero config GraphQL client that manages the cache.
const graphql = new GraphQL();

const PokemonImage = ({ name }) => {
  // The useGraphQL hook can be used just the same for queries or mutations.
  const { loading, cacheValue = {} } = useGraphQL({
    // Any GraphQL API can be queried in components, where fetch options for
    // the URL, auth headers, etc. are specified. To avoid repetition it’s a
    // good idea to import the fetch options override functions for the APIs
    // your app uses from a central module. The default fetch options received
    // by the override function are tailored to the operation; typically the
    // body is JSON but if there are files in the variables it will be a
    // FormData instance for a GraphQL multipart request.
    fetchOptionsOverride(options) {
      options.url = 'https://graphql-pokemon.now.sh';
    },

    // The operation typically contains `query` and sometimes `variables`, but
    // additional properties can be used; all are JSON encoded and sent to the
    // GraphQL server in the fetch request body.
    operation: {
      query: `{ pokemon(name: "${name}") { image } }`,
    },

    // Load the query whenever the component mounts. This is desirable for
    // queries to display content, but not for on demand situations like
    // pagination view more buttons or forms that submit mutations.
    loadOnMount: true,

    // Reload the query whenever a global cache reload is signaled.
    loadOnReload: true,

    // Reload the query whenever the global cache is reset. Resets immediately
    // delete the cache and are mostly only used when logging out the user.
    loadOnReset: true,
  });

  return cacheValue.data ? (
    <img src={cacheValue.data.pokemon.image} alt={name} />
  ) : loading ? (
    // Data is often reloaded, so don’t assume loading indicates no data.
    'Loading…'
  ) : (
    // Detailed error info is available in the `cacheValue` properties
    // `fetchError`, `httpError`, `parseError` and `graphQLErrors`. A combination
    // of errors is possible, and an error doesn’t necessarily mean data is
    // unavailable.
    'Error!'
  );
};

const App = () => (
  <GraphQLProvider graphql={graphql}>
    <PokemonImage name="pikachu" />
  </GraphQLProvider>
);

Support

Consider polyfilling:

API

Table of contents

class GraphQL

A lightweight GraphQL client that caches queries and mutations.

ParameterTypeDescription
optionsobject? = {}Options.
options.cacheGraphQLCache? = {}Cache to import; usually from a server side render.
See
Examples

Ways to import.

import { GraphQL } from 'graphql-react';
import GraphQL from 'graphql-react/universal/GraphQL.js';

Ways to require.

const { GraphQL } = require('graphql-react');
const GraphQL = require('graphql-react/universal/GraphQL');

Construct a GraphQL client.

import { GraphQL } from 'graphql-react';

const graphql = new GraphQL();
GraphQL instance method off

Removes an event listener.

ParameterTypeDescription
typestringEvent type.
handlerFunctionEvent handler.
GraphQL instance method on

Adds an event listener.

ParameterTypeDescription
typestringEvent type.
handlerFunctionEvent handler.
See
GraphQL instance method operate

Loads or reuses an already loading GraphQL operation in GraphQL operations. Emits a GraphQL instance fetch event if an already loading operation isn’t reused, and a cache event once it’s loaded into the GraphQL cache.

ParameterTypeDescription
optionsobjectOptions.
options.operationGraphQLOperationGraphQL operation.
options.fetchOptionsOverrideGraphQLFetchOptionsOverride?Overrides default GraphQL operation fetch options.
options.reloadOnLoadboolean? = falseShould a GraphQL reload happen after the operation loads, excluding the loaded operation cache.
options.resetOnLoadboolean? = falseShould a GraphQL reset happen after the operation loads, excluding the loaded operation cache.

Returns: GraphQLOperationLoading — Loading GraphQL operation details.

Fires
GraphQL instance method reload

Signals that GraphQL cache subscribers such as the useGraphQL React hook should reload their GraphQL operation.

ParameterTypeDescription
exceptCacheKeyGraphQLCacheKey?A GraphQL cache key for cache to exempt from reloading.
Fires
Examples

Reloading the GraphQL cache.

graphql.reload();
GraphQL instance method reset

Resets the GraphQL cache, useful when a user logs out.

ParameterTypeDescription
exceptCacheKeyGraphQLCacheKey?A GraphQL cache key for cache to exempt from deletion. Useful for resetting cache after a mutation, preserving the mutation cache.
Fires
Examples

Resetting the GraphQL cache.

graphql.reset();
GraphQL instance property cache

Cache of loaded GraphQL operations. You probably don’t need to interact with this unless you’re implementing a server side rendering framework.

Type: GraphQLCache

Examples

Export cache as JSON.

const exportedCache = JSON.stringify(graphql.cache);

Example cache JSON.

{
  "a1bCd2": {
    "data": {
      "viewer": {
        "name": "Jayden Seric"
      }
    }
  }
}
GraphQL instance property operations

A map of loading GraphQL operations. You probably don’t need to interact with this unless you’re implementing a server side rendering framework.

Type: object<GraphQLCacheKey, Promise<GraphQLCacheValue>>

GraphQL event cache

Signals that a GraphQL operation was fetched and cached.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
cacheKeyGraphQLCacheKeyThe GraphQL cache key for the operation that was cached.
cacheValueGraphQLCacheValueThe loaded GraphQL cache value.
responseResponse?The Response instance; may be undefined if there was a fetch error.
GraphQL event fetch

Signals that a GraphQL operation is being fetched.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
cacheKeyGraphQLCacheKeyThe GraphQL cache key for the operation being fetched.
cacheValuePromisePromise<GraphQLCacheValue>Resolves the loaded GraphQL cache value.
GraphQL event reload

Signals that GraphQL cache subscribers such as the useGraphQL React hook should reload their GraphQL operation.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
exceptCacheKeyGraphQLCacheKey?A GraphQL cache key for cache to exempt from reloading.
GraphQL event reset

Signals that the GraphQL cache has been reset.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
exceptCacheKeyGraphQLCacheKey?The GraphQL cache key for cache that was exempted from deletion.

function GraphQLProvider

A React component that provides a GraphQL instance for an app.

ParameterTypeDescription
propsobjectComponent props.
props.graphqlGraphQLGraphQL instance.
props.childrenReactNode?React children.

Returns: ReactNode — React virtual DOM node.

See
Examples

Ways to import.

import { GraphQLProvider } from 'graphql-react';
import GraphQLProvider from 'graphql-react/universal/GraphQLProvider.js';

Ways to require.

const { GraphQLProvider } = require('graphql-react');
const GraphQLProvider = require('graphql-react/universal/GraphQLProvider');

Provide a GraphQL instance for an app.

import { GraphQL, GraphQLProvider } from 'graphql-react';
import React from 'react';

const graphql = new GraphQL();

const App = ({ children }) => (
  <GraphQLProvider graphql={graphql}>{children}</GraphQLProvider>
);

function reportCacheErrors

A GraphQL event cache handler that reports fetch, HTTP, parse and GraphQL errors via console.log(). In a browser environment the grouped error details are expandable.

ParameterTypeDescription
dataGraphQL#event:cacheGraphQL cache event data.
Examples

Ways to import.

import { reportCacheErrors } from 'graphql-react';
import reportCacheErrors from 'graphql-react/universal/reportCacheErrors.js';

Ways to require.

const { reportCacheErrors } = require('graphql-react');
const reportCacheErrors = require('graphql-react/universal/reportCacheErrors');

GraphQL initialized to report cache errors.

import { GraphQL, reportCacheErrors } from 'graphql-react';

const graphql = new GraphQL();
graphql.on('cache', reportCacheErrors);

function ssr

Asynchronously server side renders a React node, preloading all GraphQL queries set to loadOnMount. After resolving, cache can be exported from the GraphQL instance property cache for serialization (usually to JSON) and transport to the client for hydration via the GraphQL constructor parameter options.cache.

Be sure to globally polyfill fetch.

ParameterTypeDescription
graphqlGraphQLGraphQL instance.
nodeReactNodeReact virtual DOM node.
renderFunction? = ReactDOMServer.renderToStaticMarkupSynchronous React server side render function, defaulting to ReactDOMServer.renderToStaticMarkup as it is more efficient than ReactDOMServer.renderToString.

Returns: Promise<string> — Promise resolving the rendered HTML string.

See
Examples

Ways to import.

import { ssr } from 'graphql-react/server';
import ssr from 'graphql-react/server/GraphQL.js';

Ways to require.

const { ssr } = require('graphql-react/server');
const ssr = require('graphql-react/server/ssr');

SSR function that resolves a HTML string and cache JSON for client hydration.

import { GraphQL, GraphQLProvider } from 'graphql-react';
import { ssr } from 'graphql-react/server';
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOMServer from 'react-dom/server';
import { App } from './components/App.mjs';

async function render() {
  const graphql = new GraphQL();
  const page = (
    <GraphQLProvider graphql={graphql}>
      <App />
    </GraphQLProvider>
  );
  const html = await ssr(graphql, page, ReactDOMServer.renderToString);
  const cache = JSON.stringify(graphql.cache);
  return { html, cache };
}

SSR function that resolves a HTML string suitable for a static page.

import { GraphQL, GraphQLProvider } from 'graphql-react';
import { ssr } from 'graphql-react/server';
import React from 'react';
import { App } from './components/App.mjs';

function render() {
  const graphql = new GraphQL();
  const page = (
    <GraphQLProvider graphql={graphql}>
      <App />
    </GraphQLProvider>
  );
  return ssr(graphql, page);
}

function useGraphQL

A React hook to manage a GraphQL operation in a component.

ParameterTypeDescription
optionsobjectOptions.
options.fetchOptionsOverrideGraphQLFetchOptionsOverride?Overrides default fetch options for the GraphQL operation.
options.loadOnMountboolean? = falseShould the operation load when the component mounts.
options.loadOnReloadboolean? = falseShould the operation load when the GraphQL reload event fires and there is a GraphQL cache value to reload, but only if the operation was not the one that caused the reload.
options.loadOnResetboolean? = falseShould the operation load when the GraphQL reset event fires and the GraphQL cache value is deleted, but only if the operation was not the one that caused the reset.
options.reloadOnLoadboolean? = falseShould a GraphQL reload happen after the operation loads, excluding the loaded operation cache.
options.resetOnLoadboolean? = falseShould a GraphQL reset happen after the operation loads, excluding the loaded operation cache.
options.operationGraphQLOperationGraphQL operation.

Returns: GraphQLOperationStatus — GraphQL operation status.

See
Examples

Ways to import.

import { useGraphQL } from 'graphql-react';
import useGraphQL from 'graphql-react/universal/useGraphQL.js';

Ways to require.

const { useGraphQL } = require('graphql-react');
const useGraphQL = require('graphql-react/universal/useGraphQL');

A component that displays a Pokémon image.

import { useGraphQL } from 'graphql-react';
import React from 'react';

const PokemonImage = ({ name }) => {
  const { loading, cacheValue = {} } = useGraphQL({
    fetchOptionsOverride(options) {
      options.url = 'https://graphql-pokemon.now.sh';
    },
    operation: {
      query: `{ pokemon(name: "${name}") { image } }`,
    },
    loadOnMount: true,
    loadOnReload: true,
    loadOnReset: true,
  });

  return cacheValue.data ? (
    <img src={cacheValue.data.pokemon.image} alt={name} />
  ) : loading ? (
    'Loading…'
  ) : (
    'Error!'
  );
};

Options guide for common situations.

SituationloadOnMountloadOnReloadloadOnResetreloadOnLoadresetOnLoad
Profile query✔️✔️✔️
Login mutation✔️
Logout mutation✔️
Change password mutation
Change name mutation✔️
Like a post mutation✔️

constant GraphQLContext

React context object for a GraphQL instance.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
ProviderFunctionReact context provider component.
ConsumerFunctionReact context consumer component.
See
Examples

Ways to import.

import { GraphQLContext } from 'graphql-react';
import GraphQLContext from 'graphql-react/universal/GraphQLContext.js';

Ways to require.

const { GraphQLContext } = require('graphql-react');
const GraphQLContext = require('graphql-react/universal/GraphQLContext');

A button component that resets the GraphQL cache.

import { GraphQLContext } from 'graphql-react';
import React from 'react';

const ResetCacheButton = () => {
  const graphql = React.useContext(GraphQLContext);
  return <button onClick={graphql.reset}>Reset cache</button>;
};

type GraphQLCache

A GraphQL cache map of GraphQL operation results.

Type: object<GraphQLCacheKeyGraphQLCacheValue>

See

type GraphQLCacheKey

A GraphQL cache key, derived from a hash of the fetch options of the GraphQL operation that populated the value.

Type: string


type GraphQLCacheValue

JSON serializable GraphQL operation result that includes errors and data.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
fetchErrorstring?fetch error message.
httpErrorHttpError?fetch response HTTP error.
parseErrorstring?Parse error message.
graphQLErrorsArray<object>?GraphQL response errors.
dataobject?GraphQL response data.

type GraphQLFetchOptions

GraphQL API URL and polyfillable fetch options. The url property gets extracted and the rest are used as fetch options.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
urlstringGraphQL API URL.
bodystring | FormDataHTTP request body.
headersobjectHTTP request headers.
credentialsstring?Authentication credentials mode.
See

type GraphQLFetchOptionsOverride

Overrides default GraphQL fetch options. Mutate the provided options object; there is no need to return it.

Type: Function

ParameterTypeDescription
optionsGraphQLFetchOptionsGraphQL fetch options tailored to the GraphQL operation, e.g. if there are files to upload options.body will be a FormData instance conforming to the GraphQL multipart request spec.
See
Examples

Setting GraphQL fetch options for an imaginary API.

(options) => {
  options.url = 'https://api.example.com/graphql';
  options.credentials = 'include';
};

type GraphQLOperation

A GraphQL operation. Additional properties may be used; all are sent to the GraphQL server.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
querystringGraphQL queries/mutations.
variablesobjectVariables used in the query.
See

type GraphQLOperationLoading

A loading GraphQL operation.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
cacheKeyGraphQLCacheKeyGraphQL cache key.
cacheValueGraphQLCacheValue?GraphQL cache value from the last identical query.
cacheValuePromisePromise<GraphQLCacheValue>Resolves the loaded GraphQL cache value.
See

type GraphQLOperationStatus

The status of a GraphQL operation.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
loadFunctionLoads the GraphQL operation on demand, updating the GraphQL cache.
loadingbooleanIs the GraphQL operation loading.
cacheKeyGraphQLCacheKeyGraphQL cache key.
cacheValueGraphQLCacheValueGraphQL cache value.
See

type HttpError

fetch HTTP error.

Type: object

PropertyTypeDescription
statusnumberHTTP status code.
statusTextstringHTTP status text.

type ReactNode

A React virtual DOM node; anything that can be rendered.

Type: undefined | null | boolean | number | string | React.Element | Array<ReactNode>

Apollo comparison

Bundle impact

graphql-react

A < 3 KB bundle impact is guaranteed by Size Limit tests. The impact is smaller than the bundle size badge suggests as the internal object-assign dependency is shared with react.

DependencyInstall sizeBundle size
graphql-reactgraphql-react install sizegraphql-react minzipped size

The bundle impact may be smaller, depending on how much of the API you use.

Apollo

Several dependencies must be installed for a minimal Apollo project.

DependencyInstall sizeBundle size
@apollo/client@apollo/client install size@apollo/client minzipped size
graphqlgraphql install sizegraphql minzipped size

Tree shaking bundlers will eliminate unused graphql exports.

Consuming the API multiple ways in a project or it’s dependencies causes massive duplication in a bundle (doubling or tripling the bundle impact); see ESM.

In addition, possibleTypes config impacts bundle size relative to the number and complexity of schema unions and interfaces; see Cache strategy.

ESM

graphql-react

Supports both CJS and ESM in Node.js whilst avoiding the dual package hazard and ensuring private internal code can’t be accessed from outside the package, via package.json exports field conditional exports.

Individual parts of the public API exist in separate CJS .js files that can be accessed via:

  • Deep default imports (recommended). Only what’s needed gets bundled, without relying on tree shaking.
  • Main index named imports. Webpack v5+ can tree shake imports from the bare graphql-react specifier, while earlier versions and Rollup can only tree shake imports from graphql-react/universal/index.mjs.

Consuming the API multiple ways in a project or it’s dependencies doesn’t cause duplication in a bundle.

Apollo

Faux ESM that can’t be used by Node.js (files don't have the .mjs extension and import specifiers don't contain file extensions) is provided via a package module field for tree shaking bundlers like webpack and Rollup.

Arbitrary CJS bundles are available at the main index and specific deep paths.

Consuming the API multiple ways in a project or it’s dependencies causes massive duplication in a bundle. This can easily double or triple the bundle impact.

Writing queries

graphql-react

Uses template strings:

const QUERY = /* GraphQL */ `
  {
    viewer {
      id
    }
  }
`;

The optional /* GraphQL */ comment signals the syntax for highlighters and linters.

Apollo

Uses template strings tagged with gql, re-exported from graphql-tag:

import { gql } from '@apollo/client';

const QUERY = gql`
  {
    viewer {
      id
    }
  }
`;

This complexity impacts bundle size and runtime performance. babel-plugin-graphql-tag can be used to process the queries at build time, but this replaces the original strings with larger objects.

Cache strategy

graphql-react

The GraphQL client has no GraphQL API specific config; fetch options are determined on demand at the component level. Multiple GraphQL APIs can be queried!

GraphQL operations are cached under hashes of their fetch options. Multiple operations with the same hash share the same loading status and cache value.

fetch, HTTP, parse and GraphQL errors can be cached, and therefore server side rendered and transported to the client for hydration and initial render.

Apollo

Apollo Client is configured for one GraphQL API per app.

GraphQL operation data is deconstructed based upon id and __typename fields into a “normalized” cache. These fields must be queried even if they aren’t used in components.

Errors aren’t cached, and therefore can’t be server side rendered and transported to the client for hydration and initial render.

To cache fragments on unions and interfaces properly, Apollo Client must be configured with schema knowledge extracted at build time, via possibleTypes. It’s challenging to reconfigure and redeploy clients whenever the GraphQL schema updates. Also, the config increases the client bundle size; see Bundle impact.

Stale cache

graphql-react

Typically, cache is refreshed for mounting components.

GraphQL operations can optionally refresh all cache except their own fresh cache; handy for mutations.

Apollo

Typically, cache isn’t refreshed for mounting components.

GraphQL mutations only update the cache with the contents of their payload. The prescribed approach is to try to manually update other normalized cache after mutations using complicated and often buggy APIs. Resetting all cache is possible, but it also wipes the result of the last operation.

File uploads

graphql-react

Supports file uploads out of the box, compliant with the GraphQL multipart request spec (authored by @jaydenseric) which is supported by popular GraphQL servers including Apollo Server. File input values and more can be used as query or mutation arguments.

Apollo

Supports file uploads if you manually setup Apollo Client with apollo-upload-client (also by @jaydenseric).

Subscriptions

graphql-react

Not supported yet, see #15.

Apollo

Supported.

TypeScript

graphql-react

Written in ECMAScript; no types are exported. Type definitions are available via @types/graphql-react.

Apollo

Written in TypeScript; types are exported.

Next.js integration

graphql-react

Has an official example using next-graphql-react, which is an easily installed integration to enable server side rendered GraphQL queries.

Also has more detailed examples, deployed at graphql-react.now.sh.

Apollo

Has an official example with boilerplate code to manually copy. It’s difficult to stay up to date with the frequent changes.

Keywords

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Package last updated on 28 Jul 2020

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