GraphQL introspection is a powerful feature of GraphQL APIs that allows developers to query information about the API's structure, including its schemas, types, and features, effectively making these APIs self-documenting. This capability enhances development workflows by enabling developers to automatically generate documentation, optimize queries, and ensure compatibility with evolving schemas, while also providing benefits such as type-checking and auto-completion through compatible IDEs like GraphiQL and Apollo Studio. Despite concerns about security, maintaining introspection in production can be managed with robust authorization and access controls rather than relying on security through obscurity. The use of introspection queries allows developers to dynamically generate forms and other functionalities based on the API's current state, streamlining front-end and back-end consistency and efficiency, as emphasized by Contentful's support for GraphQL introspection in its content management framework.