5 GraphQL clients for JavaScript and Node.js

GraphQL is a query language and runtime for APIs that allows clients to specify queries and servers to validate data against a strongly typed schema, using a single endpoint for all operations, unlike REST APIs. The text explores various GraphQL clients—graphql-request, Apollo Client, urql, Relay, and graphql-hooks—each offering distinct features such as caching, query batching, deduplication, and TypeScript support, with their suitability depending on the complexity and requirements of a project. While graphql-request is minimal and supports both Node.js and browsers, Apollo Client is robust and comprehensive with a steeper learning curve, and urql offers built-in offline support with a small bundle size. Relay, developed by Facebook, is highly performant and scalable but strictly for React, and graphql-hooks is compact, offering advanced features for React projects. The choice of a GraphQL client hinges on individual project goals, with considerations for community support, learning curve, size, and integration capabilities. Additionally, tools like LogRocket can aid in monitoring and debugging GraphQL requests in production environments.