GraphQL tracking and usage

GraphQL is a query language and runtime for APIs, developed by Facebook in 2012. It offers a more efficient, powerful, and flexible alternative to the traditional REST API, allowing clients to request specific data and reducing the amount of over- and under-fetching.

In REST, there are multiple endpoints for different data resources, while GraphQL has a single endpoint to interact with. GraphQL queries define the shape of the response, allowing clients to receive exactly what they need, whereas REST returns a fixed data structure. This makes GraphQL a more efficient and flexible choice for API development.

Queries and Mutations are the operations performed in GraphQL. Queries are used for fetching, reading, or retrieving data, while Mutations change or manipulate data. Clients can send Queries to request data, and Mutations update, create, or delete records in the system.

A schema defines the structure and types for the data that can be queried or mutated in your API. It serves as a roadmap for the client to request data or make changes, as well as validating and executing incoming queries and mutations. The schema is central to a GraphQL API and is usually written using GraphQL's Schema Definition Language (SDL).

GraphQL subscriptions enable real-time updates from the server to clients when specific events occur. They establish a persistent connection between the client and the server using web sockets. Clients subscribe to events, and the server pushes notifications with updated data when those events happen. This allows for near-instant updates, unlike traditional polling methods.