5 Security Tips for Your GraphQL API

GraphQL, developed by Facebook in 2015 as an alternative to REST APIs, aims to empower frontend developers by providing a flexible query language that allows API consumers to request only the data they need. While GraphQL enhances the developer experience, it introduces complexities in API architecture and lacks inherent security measures, making it vital to address potential vulnerabilities, especially in light of stringent privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA. Key security practices include comprehensive query authorization, input validation, introspection restriction, query limitations, and upstream error hiding to mitigate risks such as unauthorized data access, SQL injections, and DDoS attacks. As GraphQL APIs offer more control over data fetching, they also increase the attack surface, necessitating robust security measures to prevent potential breaches and financial penalties.