Managing your data: What is the GraphQL API?

ECommerce as a whole is in a constant state of flux, requiring flexibility and scalability out of online platforms. This is where GraphQL comes in; Shopify's technology of choice for building custom APIs for retrieving and managing your data.

GraphQL is a query language and a runtime system. Using it, you can form requests by using the GraphQL query language to return data about your products, store, customers, metaobjects, and so much more. Additionally, you can update that data programmatically using this system.

A Step Away From REST

GraphQL has some similarities with REST, such as being versioned, require authentication and explicit access scopes, but there are several benefits to using GraphQL. Unlike REST, GraphQL can:

• Work with multiple resources in a single request
• Allow advanced resource filtering to only request the data you need
• Handle data safer through its strongly typed validation and autocompletion

Furthermore, Shopify provides first-class documentation on this system. Using GraphQL's introspection feature, you can query the schema to explore its contents and documentation. Shopify closely works with the APIs created using GraphQL, focusing on evolving the system to focus on resources that the community uses and requests.

Front and Back-end Support

Shopify offers two primary endpoints; Admin and Storefront. Each have different scopes and availability to allow more purposeful API construction. The Public Storefront API offers primarily read-access to public store data, such as products, collections, Metabojects, and customer information. This can provide users custom experiences without the cost of building and hosting an app.

For more advanced or sensitive data requests, including modification of store data, Shopify also provides the Privately scoped Admin API. This API allows apps to handle any kind of data point within a Shopify store with extra layers of authentication and security.

How DEMAND Uplifts Storefronts with GraphQL

At DEMAND, our team of certified Shopify experts and developers have utilized GraphQL to create powerful, performant, and custom experiences for high-growth brands. These features include:

• User-accessible order lookup forms
• Dynamic modifications of Metafields and Metaobjects
• Unique Customer account portals
• Populating Headless Commerce web experiences
• Building back-end application and connection points

Ready to enhance your customers' online experience? DEMAND can help you get there.