Photographer: Mohammad Rahmani | Source: UnsplashNextJS and GraphQL are popular technologies used for building modern, scalable web applications. This tutorial will provide a comprehensive guide on how to use NextJS and GraphQL together to create efficient, data-driven applications.
NextJS is a powerful React framework offering server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and API routes. GraphQL, on the other hand, is a query language and runtime for APIs, allowing clients to request precisely the data they need.
Before you begin this tutorial, ensure you have a basic understanding of JavaScript, React, and Node.js. Familiarity with databases, REST APIs, and version control systems (like Git) is also helpful.
NextJS and GraphQL: A Step-by-Step Guide
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use NextJS and GraphQL together to create efficient, data-driven applications.
Our tutorial covers the following topics:
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Understanding GraphQL
What is GraphQL?
GraphQL is a query language and runtime for your API, which allows clients to request exactly the data they need. It was developed by Facebook in 2012 and later open-sourced in 2015.
With GraphQL, developers can easily create a flexible and efficient API without multiple REST endpoints. Using GraphQL, clients can make a single request to fetch all the required data, reducing the number of HTTP requests.
Also, GraphQL provides a type system to ensure that the data requested matches the data provided. This type of system makes it easier for developers to reason about their code and to catch errors early in the development process.
GraphQL has seen significant adoption in recent years, with many major companies using it in production, including Airbnb, GitHub, and Shopify. Its popularity is due to its ability to simplify API development and improve performance, making it a valuable tool for developers building modern applications.
GraphQL vs. REST
REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. While REST is simple and widely used, it has some limitations:
- Over-fetching or under-fetching of data
- Multiple API endpoints for different data requirements
- Versioning issues
With GraphQL, these limitations disappear, allowing clients to request only the needed data using a single endpoint and a flexible query language.
GraphQL schema and types
GraphQL is a query language that allows you to define your API's data types and relationships using a schema. This schema is written in the GraphQL Schema Definition Language (SDL) and includes Query, Mutation, and custom object types.
An example schema is shown below:
type User {
id: ID!
name: String!
email: String!
posts: [Post!]!
}
type Post {
id: ID!
title: String!
content: String!
author: User!
}
type Query {
getUsers: [User!]!
getPosts: [Post!]!
}
type Mutation {
createUser(name: String!, email: String!): User!
createPost(title: String!, content: String!, authorId: ID!): Post!
}
Queries and Mutations
Queries fetch data from a GraphQL API, while mutations are used to modify data.
In the example schema above, there are two queries (getUsers and getPosts) and two mutations (createUser and createPost).
Queries are important as they allow developers to retrieve information from the API, while mutations enable developers to modify the data stored in the API.
Introducing Apollo Client
Apollo Client is a popular, feature-rich GraphQL client library for JavaScript applications. It simplifies fetching, caching, and managing GraphQL data in your application.
With Apollo Client, developers can easily manage and update their data in real-time.
Additionally, it provides features like optimistic UI updates, pagination, and local state management, making it an excellent choice for building complex, data-driven applications.
Integrating GraphQL with NextJS
When it comes to integrating GraphQL into a web application, one of the most popular approaches is to use the Next.js framework. This is because Next.js provides several benefits that make it easier to work with GraphQL, such as:
- Server-side rendering (SSR) and static site generation (SSG) capabilities, which can improve website performance and SEO
- Built-in API routes that can be used to create a GraphQL API
- Easy client-side routing and built-in support for dynamic imports, which can improve website speed and performance
- The ability to use Apollo Client, a popular, feature-rich GraphQL client library for JavaScript applications
Installing Node.js and NPM
To get started with Node.js and NPM, you should first download and install them on your computer. One way to do this is to visit the official website (https://nodejs.org/) and follow the instructions.
Once you have downloaded and installed Node.js, you will automatically get NPM since it is included in the installation package.
Creating a new NextJS project
Create a new NextJS project using the following command in your terminal:
npx create-next-app your-project-name
cd your-project-name
This command will generate a new NextJS project with the default setup. However, you can customize your project by passing additional options to the command. For example, you can specify the package manager you want to use or add TypeScript support to your project.
Once the command has finished running, you can navigate to your project directory and start developing your application. You will find that the project has already been set up with some basic files and folders, including pages, public, and styles.
Installing required dependencies
To install the dependencies, you need to follow a few simple steps. First, ensure you have the latest version of the package manager installed on your system. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:
npm install npm@latest -g
Once you have the latest version of the package manager installed, you can proceed to install the required dependencies. This can be done by running the following command in your terminal:
npm install <dependency-name>
Make sure to replace <dependency-name> with the actual name of the dependency you want to install. You can find the name of the dependency in the documentation of the tutorial that you are following.
It is important to note that some dependencies may have their own, which means that you may need to install multiple dependencies to get everything working. Make sure to read the documentation carefully to avoid missing any crucial steps.
Setting up Apollo Client
To set up Apollo Client in your NextJS project, you can start by creating a new file called apollo-client.js in the root directory. This file will be the heart of your Apollo Client setup. Here are the steps to follow:
- First, install the necessary packages. You will need
@apollo/client, graphql, and isomorphic-unfetch. You can install them by running the following command in your terminal:
npm install --save @apollo/client graphql isomorphic-unfetch
- Next, import the necessary packages in your
apollo-client.js file:
import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache, HttpLink } from '@apollo/client';
import fetch from 'isomorphic-unfetch';
- Now, create a new instance of
ApolloClient:
const client = new ApolloClient({
ssrMode: true,
link: new HttpLink({
uri: '<https://your-graphql-endpoint.com>',
fetch,
}),
cache: new InMemoryCache(),
});
Here, we're setting ssrMode to true to enable server-side rendering. We're also setting the uri of our GraphQL endpoint and passing in our fetch function.
- Finally, export your
ApolloClient instance:
export default client;
And that's it! You've successfully set up Apollo Client in your NextJS project. You can now use it to query your GraphQL API and fetch data in your components.
Creating a GraphQL API
Creating a GraphQL API is a great way to build scalable and flexible APIs that clients can easily consume. While we'll use Apollo Server here, it's worth noting that there are other server options you can choose from, such as Hasura or Prisma.
Alternatively, you can even create a custom server using Express.js and the graphql package, which gives you complete control over your API's functionality.
Install Apollo Server and its dependencies:
To begin, you'll need to install Apollo Server and its dependencies. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:
npm install apollo-server-micro
- Create a new folder called graphql in your project root. This folder will contain the files necessary to define your API's schema and resolvers. Inside that folder, create two files: typeDefs.js and resolvers.js.
- Add the following schema to typeDefs.js:
const { gql } = require("apollo-server-micro");
const typeDefs = gql`
type User {
id: ID!
name: String!
email: String!
}
type Query {
getUsers: [User!]!
}
type Mutation {
createUser(name: String!, email: String!): User!
}
`;
module.exports = typeDefs;
This schema defines a User type with an id, name, and email field. It also defines a Query type with a getUsers field that returns an array of users. Finally, it defines a Mutation type, which has a createUser field that creates a new user.
- Add the following resolvers to resolvers.js:
let users = [];
const resolvers = {
Query: {
getUsers: () => users,
},
Mutation: {
createUser: (_, { name, email }) => {
const newUser = { id: users.length + 1, name, email };
users.push(newUser);
return newUser;
},
},
};
module.exports = resolvers;
These resolvers define the functionality for the fields defined in the schema. In this case, we have a resolver for getUsers, which returns the users array, and a resolver for createUser, which creates a new user object and adds it to the users array.
- Create a new file called api/graphql.js in your project root, and add the following code to set up Apollo Server:
const { ApolloServer } = require("apollo-server-micro");
const typeDefs = require("../../graphql/typeDefs");
const resolvers = require("../../graphql/resolvers");
const apolloServer = new ApolloServer({
typeDefs,
resolvers,
});
export const config = {
api: {
bodyParser: false,
},
};
export default apolloServer.createHandler({ path: "/api/graphql" });
This code sets up an Apollo Server instance with the schema and resolvers we defined earlier. It creates a new ApolloServer object with the typeDefs and resolvers options, then exports a handler function that can be used with Next.js. Finally, it sets the path for the GraphQL API to /api/graphql.
With this code in place, you should now be able to start your API by running npm run dev and navigating to localhost:3000/api/graphql in your browser. From there, you can use a tool like GraphiQL or Apollo Studio to explore your API and execute queries and mutations.
Connecting NextJS to the GraphQL API
Now that you have a GraphQL API, let's connect your NextJS application.
- You can start by importing the Apollo Client instance in your NextJS _app.js file. To do this, insert the following code snippet:
import { ApolloProvider } from "@apollo/client";
import client from "../apollo-client";
- Next, wrap your Component in the ApolloProvider component. You can do this by inserting the following code snippet:
function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
return (
<ApolloProvider client={client}>
<Component {...pageProps} />
</ApolloProvider>
);
}
export default MyApp;
Once you have completed these two steps, your NextJS application will be connected to your GraphQL API. This will allow you to access all the data stored in your API and use it to create dynamic and engaging web applications.
Fetching data using GraphQL queries
To fetch the list of users from the API and display them on the index page, follow these steps:
- Import the gql and useQuery functions from the @apollo/client package. These functions will allow us to interact with the API and fetch data.
- Define the GET_USERS query. This query specifies what data we want to fetch from the API. We'll fetch the id, name, and email of each user.
const GET_USERS = gql`
query GetUsers {
getUsers {
id
name
email
address {
street
city
country
}
}
}
`;
- Use the useQuery hook to fetch data. This hook takes in the GET_USERS query and returns a loading, error, and data object. We'll use these objects to display the fetched data.
const { loading, error, data } = useQuery(GET_USERS);
- Display the fetched data. We'll use the data object returned by the useQuery hook to display the fetched data. We'll show a loading message if the data is still being fetched, an error message if there was an error fetching the data, and the list of users if the data was successfully fetched.
return (
<div>
<h1>List of Users</h1>
{loading && <p>Loading...</p>}
{error && <p>Error: {error.message}</p>}
{data && data.getUsers.map((user) => (
<div key={user.id}>
<h2>{user.name}</h2>
<p>{user.email}</p>
<p>Address: {user.address.street}, {user.address.city}, {user.address.country}</p>
</div>
))}
</div>
);
These steps will allow you to fetch and display data using GraphQL queries on your website.
Updating data using GraphQL mutations
Let's create a form to add new users using the createUser mutation. Modify your pages/index.js file:
- Import the gql and useMutation functions from the @apollo/client package.
- Define the CREATE_USER mutation:
const CREATE_USER = gql`
mutation CreateUser($name: String!, $email: String!) {
createUser(name: $name, email: $email) {
id
name
email
}
}
`;
- Use the useMutation hook to create a new user:
const [createUser] = useMutation(CREATE_USER, {
refetchQueries: [{ query: GET_USERS }],
});
- Create a form and handle the form submission:
const [name, setName] = useState("");
const [email, setEmail] = useState("");
const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
e.preventDefault();
try {
await createUser({ variables: { name, email } });
setName("");
setEmail("");
} catch (error) {
console.error(error);
}
};
return (
<div>
{/* ... */}
<form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
<input
type="text"
placeholder="Name"
value={name}
onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)}
/>
<input
type="email"
placeholder="Email"
value={email}
onChange={(e) => setEmail(e.target.value)}
/>
<button type="submit">Add User</button>
</form>
</div>
);
Now, your NextJS application is connected to the GraphQL API, allowing you to fetch and update data using queries and mutations. In a real-world application, you would expand upon this by implementing more complex features like authentication, authorization, and data validation.
Building a Real-World Application
This section outlines the steps to create a simple blog application with user authentication and authorization. With the increasing number of people interested in blogging, creating an application that caters to their needs is necessary. It is important to note that the success of an application depends on how purposeful and functional it is.
Defining the application's purpose and features
To ensure that the blog application we are creating is relevant and valuable, we need to define its purpose and features. The features of the application must cater to the user's needs.
- User authentication (sign up, sign in, and sign out) - This feature is necessary to protect the user's information from unauthorized access. It also ensures that the user is the only one who can access their account.
- Creating, editing, and deleting blog posts - This feature is essential to enable users to create their content, edit, and delete it as they see fit.
- Displaying blog posts with author information - This feature is necessary to provide context to the blog post and give credit to the author.
- Commenting on blog posts - This feature is essential to enable users to engage with the author and other readers by commenting on the blog post.
Designing the database schema
To create an application that caters to the users’, we need to design a database schema that is efficient and functional. For this application, we'll need three main entities: User, Post, and Comment. You can use a database like MongoDB or PostgreSQL with an ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) library such as Mongoose or Prisma. The schema for these entities must be carefully designed to ensure efficient data storage and retrieval.
Example schema:
User
- id: ID!
- name: String!
- email: String!
- password: String!
- posts: [Post!]!
Post
- id: ID!
- title: String!
- content: String!
- createdAt: DateTime!
- updatedAt: DateTime!
- author: User!
- comments: [Comment!]!
Comment
- id: ID!
- content: String!
- createdAt: DateTime!
- author: User!
- post: Post!
Implementing the GraphQL schema and resolvers
After designing the database schema, we must implement the GraphQL schema and resolvers. We need to update our GraphQL schema in the graphql/typeDefs.js file to include the new types, queries, and mutations.
We must also update our resolvers in the graphql/resolvers.js file to handle the new queries and mutations, interacting with your database using your chosen ORM. This step must be carefully done to ensure the schema and resolvers are functional.
Creating NextJS pages and components
When creating the NextJS pages and components, we need to ensure they are easy to navigate and understand. The pages for sign-up, sign-in, and displaying blog posts must be well-designed to cater to the users' needs.
We also need to create components for displaying a single blog post, creating and editing blog posts, and adding comments. These components must be carefully designed to ensure they are functional and easy to use.
We can use the @apollo/client package to fetch and update data using GraphQL queries and mutations.
Implementing authentication and authorization
To protect the user's information from unauthorized access, we need to implement authentication and authorization.
We can use a package like next-auth to handle user authentication with email/password or third-party providers.
Also, we need to secure our GraphQL API by checking for authenticated users in our resolvers and protecting sensitive operations (e.g., creating, editing, and deleting blog posts and comments).
We can use context and state management to store user information and control the visibility of protected components and routes in our NextJS application.
Server-Side Rendering and Static Site Generation with NextJS and GraphQL
Overview of SSR and SSG
NextJS provides two methods for rendering content on the server: Server-Side Rendering (SSR) and Static Site Generation (SSG). SSR generates HTML on each request, while SSG generates HTML at build time and serves it as a static asset.
SSR is a powerful tool for dynamic websites that require real-time data. It allows you to serve personalized content to each user, making the website more responsive and interactive. On the other hand, SSG is great for sites that stay the same frequently, such as blogs or portfolios. Because the content is generated at build time, SSG is much faster and less resource-intensive than SSR.
Implementing SSR with getServerSideProps
In your blog post page, fetch the post data on the server side using getServerSideProps:
import { initializeApollo } from "../apollo-client";
import { GET_POST } from "../graphql/queries";
export async function getServerSideProps(context) {
const postId = context.params.postId;
const apolloClient = initializeApollo();
await apolloClient.query({
query: GET_POST,
variables: { id: postId },
});
return {
props: {
initialApolloState: apolloClient.cache.extract(),
},
};
}
This method will fetch the required data each time a user requests the page. Because the data is fetched on the server, it will be personalized for each user and can be used to generate dynamic content.
Implementing SSG with getStaticProps and getStaticPaths
For your blog post list page, generate static HTML for each post at build time using getStaticProps and getStaticPaths:
import { initializeApollo } from "../apollo-client";
import { GET_POSTS, GET_POST_IDS } from "../graphql/queries";
export async function getStaticProps(context) {
const postId = context.params.postId; const apolloClient = initializeApollo();
await apolloClient.query({ query: GET_POSTS, variables: { id: postId }, });
return { props: { initialApolloState: apolloClient.cache.extract(), }, revalidate: 60, // Optional: revalidate the data every 60 seconds }; }
export async function getStaticPaths() {
const apolloClient = initializeApollo();
const { data } = await apolloClient.query({ query: GET_POST_IDS, });
const paths = data.posts.map((post) => ({ params: { postId: post.id.toString() }, }));
return { paths, fallback: "blocking", };
}
This method will generate static HTML for each blog post at build time, making your website much faster and less resource-intensive. The data will be fetched once and cached so that it can be served to multiple users without additional requests. Using getStaticPaths, you can generate multiple pages for dynamic content, such as blog posts or product listings, without the need for SSR.
Deploying Your NextJS and GraphQL Application Choosing a hosting provider
When it comes to deploying your NextJS application, choosing a hosting provider that meets your requirements and budget can be a daunting task. However, there are many hosting providers available for you to choose from.
Some popular options include Vercel, Netlify, or Heroku. Each provider offers different features, so it is essential to research the one that will work best for you and your project.
Setting up Environment Variables
One crucial aspect of deploying any application is ensuring that sensitive information is kept secure. This is where environment variables come in. Using environment variables, you can keep sensitive information like database credentials and API keys safe from prying eyes.
Configuring your environment variables for both development and production environments is vital to ensure your application runs smoothly in all scenarios.
Continuous Integration and Deployment
Once you have chosen your hosting provider and set up your environment variables, the next step is to configure a CI/CD pipeline. This is where tools like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, or CircleCI come in. Setting up a pipeline allows you to automatically build, test, and deploy your application whenever changes are pushed to the repository. This helps ensure that your application is always up-to-date and running smoothly.
Monitoring and Performance
Finally, it is crucial to monitor the performance of your application. This includes tracking errors, user activity, and performance metrics. Tools like Sentry, LogRocket, or Google Analytics can help you monitor your application and provide insights into its performance. By monitoring your application, you can identify and fix issues before they become major problems and ensure your users have the best possible experience.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have explored the process of building a complete web application using NextJS and GraphQL. We covered the initial steps of setting up the development environment, understanding GraphQL, and integrating GraphQL with NextJS.
Additionally, we have provided in-depth details about building a real-world application with NextJS and GraphQL, including implementing server-side rendering and static site generation and deploying the application.
Moreover, we have provided examples and detailed explanations, allowing you to understand NextJS and GraphQL better. Following this guide, you will have a solid foundation for building data-driven applications using NextJS and GraphQL.
In fact, with the knowledge and skills you have gained, you can now take your web application development to the next level, building even more complex applications with ease.
We hope that you find this tutorial helpful and informative.
Happy coding!
