Complete Guide to Building a GraphQL Server with Laravel

When it comes to building quality Laravel applications with great user experiences, you need robust and efficient APIs. Traditional REST APIs, while widely used, can become a little clunky when dealing with complex data relationships. That’s where GraphQL comes in.

This server acts as a flexible query layer, so clients can request specific data they need. That eliminates the need for multiple API calls and over-fetching of unnecessary information. Laravel’s robust ecosystem and well-established structure pair perfectly with GraphQL’s query-based approach.

Laravel development services use this combo to create clean, maintainable, and efficient APIs and build excellent web apps. But how do they build a GraphQL server with Laravel? Let’s find out.

What is a GraphQL Server?

A GraphQL server is the backend component that powers GraphQL queries. It’s like a translator between your application and your data sources. This server understands the GraphQL requests from your application and fetches the specific data it needs.

GraphQL serves as an alternative to REST APIs but with high flexibility and power for data querying and manipulation.

The server-side implementation of GraphQL involves a single endpoint that accepts queries or mutations. This centralized approach reduces network overhead and creates faster data retrieval.

Here’s a breakdown of its key functions:

• Data Retrieval: The GraphQL server receives queries written in the GraphQL language. These queries specify the exact data an application needs.
• Schema Enforcement: The server validates the queries against a predefined schema. This schema acts like a blueprint, defining the data structure and what information can be requested.
• Data Fetching: Based on the validated query, the server fetches the requested data from your underlying data sources (databases, APIs, etc.).
• Response Building: The server combines the fetched data according to the query structure and sends it back to the application in a single response.

Overall, a GraphQL server acts as the central hub for processing GraphQL requests and delivering the exact data an application needs. Laravel developers use it to optimize data fetching and reduce unnecessary back-and-forth communication.

Why Build a GraphQL Server with Laravel?

There are several compelling reasons to build a GraphQL server with Laravel, especially if you’re aiming to create top-notch Laravel websites:

Efficiency

GraphQL’s core strength lies in its ability to reduce over-fetching and under-fetching of data. Clients can specify exactly what they need, meaning fewer API calls and faster loading times for your Laravel application.

Flexibility

The query-based nature of GraphQL allows applications to request specific data structures, including nested relationships. This eliminates the need for multiple REST endpoints for complex data interactions, making your Laravel API more adaptable.

Maintainability

Laravel’s well-structured approach to code organization combined with GraphQL’s clearly defined schema leads to cleaner and easier-to-maintain codebases. This makes it simpler to introduce new features and updates to your Laravel application.

Developer Experience

Both Laravel and GraphQL offer strong developer experiences. Laravel’s robust tooling and community support streamline development, while GraphQL’s clear schema definition and predictable response format make it easier for developers to understand and work with data.

Future-proofing

Modern web applications often involve complex data interactions. By adopting GraphQL, you’re future-proofing your Laravel website, ensuring it can handle evolving data needs and integrate seamlessly with other GraphQL-based services.

In summary, building a GraphQL server with Laravel provides a powerful combination for creating high-quality Laravel applications. With that, the Laravel developers can build exceptional UXs for your website.

How Do You Build a GraphQL Server with Laravel?

Building a GraphQL server with Laravel involves setting up a package called rebing/graphql-laravel and defining your schema, queries, mutations, and types. Here’s how the process goes:

Prerequisites

• PHP 8.0 or higher
• Database (MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, or SQL Server)
• A Laravel project (you can use laravel new your-project-name)
• Composer (dependency manager) (one of the key web development tools)

Step 1: Install Laravel and Package

The first step is to set up a new Laravel project, which can be done by the following command:

composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel graphql-server
cd graphql-server
composer require rebing/graphql-server

This command creates a new Laravel project named graphql-server and installs the rebing/graphql-laravel package.

Step 2: Install Lighthouse

Lighthouse is one of the best Laravel packages. It integrates GraphQL with Laravel to simplify server setup and management. You can install it by running the command:

composer require nuwave/lighthouse

With this package, you will be able to handle GraphQL queries and mutations in Laravel.

Step 3: Publish the GraphQL and Lighthouse Configuration

Run the following Artisan commands to publish both the package’s configuration:

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="Rebing\GraphQL\GraphQLServiceProvider" --tag="config"

This will create a graphql.php configuration file in your config directory. You can customize options here, like the key used for variables in your request (params_key).

php artisan vendor:publish --provider="Nuwave\Lighthouse\LighthouseServiceProvider" --tag="config"

The Lighthouse configuration and schema files have now been published. So you can configure the GraphQL server and define the data schema.

Step 4: Define Your Schema

The schema defines the structure of your GraphQL API. It also helps you customize the queries, mutations, and types of data that can be requested.Open graphql/schema.graphql and add:

type Query {
users: [User!]!
user(id: ID!): User
}
type Mutation {
createUser(name: String!, email: String!): User!
}
type User {
id: ID!
name: String!
email: String!
}

Here, we have defined the GraphQL schema, specifying the types of queries and mutations that are available.

Step 5: Create Resolvers

Resolvers are functions that handle the logic for fetching and manipulating data as defined in the schema. To make this controller, you can write the following Artisan command:

php artisan make:controller UserController

Now, add the methods you want in the UseController.php file. For example:

namespace App\Http\Controllers;
use App\Models\User;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;
class UserController extends Controller
{
 public function resolveUsers()
 {
   return User::all();
 }
 public function resolveUser($root, array $args)
 {
   return User::find($args['id']);
 }
 public function resolveCreateUser($root, array $args)
 {
  return User::create([
  'name' => $args['name'],
  'email' => $args['email'],
  ]);
 }
}

With this, we have created the resolver function to fetch and manipulate user data as defined in the schema.

Step 6: Register Resolvers in the Schema

Once you have created resolvers, now you need to link the schema definition to resolver. That will handle the actual data fetching and mutation operations. For that, you may update graphql/schema.graphql and include the below code:

type Query {
users: [User!]! @field(resolver: "App\\Http\\Controllers\\UserController@resolveUsers")
user(id: ID!): User @field(resolver: "App\\Http\\Controllers\\UserController@resolveUser")
}

type Mutation {
createUser(name: String!, email: String!): User! @field(resolver: "App\\Http\\Controllers\\UserController@resolveCreateUser")
}

The schema is now linked to the resolver methods, enabling data operations to be executed as per client requests.

Step 7: Update the Model and Migration

Ensure that the database structure and model are set up to handle the data operations as defined in your GraphQL schema. To do so, you may update the migration table and configure the user model.

To update the users table migration file:

// database/migrations/xxxx_xx_xx_xxxxxx_create_users_table.php
Schema::create('users', function (Blueprint $table) {
 $table->id();
 $table->string('name');
 $table->string('email')->unique();
 $table->timestamps();
});

Then, ensure the user model file is configured correctly:

// app/Models/User.php
namespace App\Models;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\HasFactory;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
class User extends Model
{
use HasFactory;
protected $fillable = ['name', 'email'];
}

Now, the database structure and model are ready to handle user data, which is aligned with your schema.

Step 8: Test Your GraphQL Server

You can now test your GraphQL server using a tool like GraphiQL, which is included with Lighthouse. For testing, start the Laravel development server using:

php artisan serve

Now, navigate to http://localhost:8000/graphql-playground in your browser. Here, you can execute GraphQL queries and mutations. For example, you can run the following query to fetch users:

query 
{
 users 
 {
   id
   name
   email
 }
}

And the following mutation to create a new user:

mutation 
{
  createUser(name: "John Doe", email: "john.doe@example.com") 
  {
    id
    name
    email
  }
}

Once the GraphQL server is up and running, you can execute queries and mutations against it.With the above steps, we have successfully set up a GraphQL server using Laravel. But, if you face any issues or need help setting up a GraphQL server, hire Laravel developers. They can efficiently create a server with their tech expertise.

FAQs About Building a GraphQL Server with Laravel

Conclusion

Building a GraphQL server with Laravel is a powerful combination. It offers developers a flexible and efficient way to create APIs. GraphQL offers the ability to reduce over-fetching and precisely target data needs. That translates to faster loading times, superior maintainability, and a smoother user experience for your Laravel applications.

If you need help creating servers or building APIs, consider hiring Laravel developers with experience in GraphQL integration. They can efficiently implement GraphQL with Laravel, ensuring your APIs meet the evolving demands of your project.