62 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
62 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
# GraphQL API
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> - [Introduced][ce-19008] in GitLab 11.0 (enabled by feature flag `graphql`).
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> - [Always enabled](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/merge_requests/30444)
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in GitLab 12.1.
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[GraphQL](https://graphql.org/) is a query language for APIs that
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allows clients to request exactly the data they need, making it
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possible to get all required data in a limited number of requests.
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The GraphQL data (fields) can be described in the form of types,
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allowing clients to use [clientside GraphQL
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libraries](https://graphql.org/code/#graphql-clients) to consume the
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API and avoid manual parsing.
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Since there's no fixed endpoints and datamodel, new abilities can be
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added to the API without creating breaking changes. This allows us to
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have a versionless API as described in [the GraphQL
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documentation](https://graphql.org/learn/best-practices/#versioning).
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## Vision
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We want the GraphQL API to be the **primary** means of interacting
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programmatically with GitLab. To achieve this, it needs full coverage - anything
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possible in the REST API should also be possible in the GraphQL API.
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To help us meet this vision, the frontend should use GraphQL in preference to
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the REST API for new features.
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There are no plans to deprecate the REST API. To reduce the technical burden of
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supporting two APIs in parallel, they should share implementations as much as
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possible.
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## Available queries
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A first iteration of a GraphQL API includes the following queries
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1. `project` : Within a project it is also possible to fetch a `mergeRequest` by IID.
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1. `group` : Basic group information and epics **(ULTIMATE)** are currently supported.
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1. `namespace` : Within a namespace it is also possible to fetch `projects`.
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### Multiplex queries
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GitLab supports batching queries into a single request using
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[apollo-link-batch-http](https://www.apollographql.com/docs/link/links/batch-http). More
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info about multiplexed queries is also available for
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[graphql-ruby](https://graphql-ruby.org/queries/multiplex.html) the
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library GitLab uses on the backend.
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## Reference
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GitLab's GraphQL reference [is available](reference/index.md).
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It is automatically generated from GitLab's GraphQL schema and embedded in a Markdown file.
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## GraphiQL
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The API can be explored by using the GraphiQL IDE, it is available on your
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instance on `gitlab.example.com/-/graphql-explorer`.
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[ce-19008]: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/merge_requests/19008
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[features-api]: ../features.md
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