How to use React JS with GraphQL

 GraphQL is a query language for APIs that allows clients to specify the data they need from the server, making it a great fit for use with React JS. In this article, we will explore how to use React JS with GraphQL.

Step 1: Set up a GraphQL server

Before we can use GraphQL with React JS, we need to set up a GraphQL server that exposes the necessary data via a GraphQL API. There are several options for GraphQL servers, including Apollo Server, Prisma, and Hasura.

Step 2: Set up a GraphQL client in React JS

Once we have our GraphQL server set up, we need to set up a GraphQL client in our React JS application to interact with the GraphQL API. There are several GraphQL client libraries available for React JS, including Apollo Client, Relay, and urql.

Step 3: Define GraphQL queries and mutations

With our GraphQL server and client set up, we can define our GraphQL queries and mutations in our React JS application. We can define our queries and mutations using GraphQL syntax in a .graphql file or inline in our React components using a GraphQL client library.

Step 4: Execute GraphQL queries and mutations

With our GraphQL queries and mutations defined, we can now execute them in our React components using our GraphQL client library. We can use hooks provided by our GraphQL client library, such as useQuery and useMutation, to execute our queries and mutations and update our component's state based on the results.

Step 5: Handle errors and loading states

When working with asynchronous data, it's important to handle loading states and errors gracefully in our React components. Our GraphQL client libraries provide hooks for handling loading states and errors, such as useQuery and useMutation.

Conclusion:

Using GraphQL with React JS can be a powerful combination, allowing us to efficiently retrieve and manipulate data in our applications. By following the steps above, we can set up a GraphQL server and client, define our queries and mutations, execute them in our React components, and handle loading states and errors gracefully. With GraphQL and React JS, we can build scalable and maintainable applications that meet the needs of our users.