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The first time we wrote about GraphQL, back in 2017, we described it as a shiny new tool developed by Facebook.
GraphCMS, which we presented in that article, was one of the first softwares to use it as a core feature.
It was just another drop in a sea of development tools. No biggie, right?
Not quite.
I think we can all agree that GraphQL is now integral to the modern web ecosystem.
Proof #1: the number of static site generators and headless CMSs making it a prime built-in feature has been skyrocketing in the last few months.
One of them being TakeShape.io, which I’ll explore further in a technical demo at the end of this post.
First, I want to take a look at:
- The state of GraphQL in 2019
- The benefits it brings to headless CMSs
- The tools that feature GraphQL
- An introduction to TakeShape.io
Let’s begin by wrapping our heads around the concepts behind GraphQL.
1. Getting up-to-date with GraphQL
You may be reading without even knowing what GraphQL really is. For clarity’s sake, it’s a query language for APIs that defines how to fetch data from one or many databases.
For a proper technical GraphQL introduction I suggest our first post on the matter.
A lot has changed since its first use case with FB mobile apps back in 2012, mostly regarding its adoption. GraphQL was open-sourced in 2015, giving it an initial burst of life for a larger number of devs. 4 years later, its rising presence in our industry is undeniable.
Proof #2 that GraphQL is an integral part of web development: its adoption by tech giants. Apart from Facebook, other major players like GitHub, Shopify, Pinterest, Paypal & Twitter all use GraphQL in some way or another.
→ Read the full post and technical tutorial here
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