GraphQL by Example from Udemy

More and more teams are choosing GraphQL instead of (or along with) REST for their web APIs. GraphQL queries give clients great flexibility in the way they request data from the server, preventing issues such overfetching or underfetching of data, and allowing multiple resources to be retrieved in a single request.

In this course you'll learn how to use GraphQL both on the server side and in client applications through practical examples in the form of full-stack JavaScript applications. You will be introduced to all the main GraphQL concepts like schema definition, Queries, Mutations, and Subscriptions, as well as to solution to common requirements such as handling authentication/authorization and client-side caching.

The examples use Apollo Server with Node.js and Express on the backend and React on the frontend, with GraphQL-Request first, then Apollo Client as GraphQL clients. GraphQL-WS is used for subscriptions.

The aim however is not just to cover specific GraphQL libraries, but to give you a more general understanding of the underlying concepts. For instance, GraphQL client libraries are introduced only after learning how to write a simple client "by hand", to make sure you understand the GraphQL over HTTP format.

This course assumes good knowledge of modern JavaScript, and ideally some familiarity with Node.js/Express and React.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Build a graphql server based on nodejs, express and apollo server
Call graphql apis from javascript using graphql-request or apollo client

Handle authentication/authorization, caching, and more
Receive real-time updates with graphql subscriptions

Build a graphql server based on nodejs, express and apollo server
Call graphql apis from javascript using graphql-request or apollo client
Handle authentication/authorization, caching, and more
Receive real-time updates with graphql subscriptions

Syllabus

Introduction

What is GraphQL

Required Tools

Course Advice

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines GraphQL's implementation on the server side as well as client applications, offering a holistic view of its usage

Focuses on practical examples using real-world JavaScript full-stack applications, enhancing comprehension and relevance

Provides hands-on experience with popular GraphQL libraries such as Apollo Server and Apollo Client, ensuring industry-aligned skills

Covers essential GraphQL concepts, including schema definition, mutations, queries, and subscriptions, building a solid foundation

Addresses common authentication, authorization, caching, and performance optimization challenges, equipping students with practical solutions

Requires knowledge of modern JavaScript and familiarity with Node.js/Express and React, indicating a target audience with some technical proficiency

Reviews summary

Practical graphql for full-stack development

According to learners, this course offers a well-structured and easy-to-follow journey into GraphQL, emphasizing a practical, example-driven approach. Students particularly praise the instructor's ability to simplify complex topics and cover both server and client-side implementations, providing a complete picture. While some earlier reviews noted issues with outdated library versions and setup friction, recent feedback remains overwhelmingly positive, suggesting the course's strong foundational content outweighs minor technical obsolescence or that updates have occurred. It's considered an excellent starting point for developers keen on integrating GraphQL with React and Node.js.

Provides a strong foundation, but some advanced topics could be expanded upon.

"A solid introduction to GraphQL. My only minor gripe is that some parts felt a bit rushed towards the end, and I wished for more advanced topics."

"Good course for beginners to intermediate. It starts with the basics and builds up."

"Provides a solid foundation. My only minor issue is the lack of content on advanced error handling or performance optimization."

"I feel confident in the fundamentals after this course, but I'll need to seek out additional resources for niche topics."

Praised for its comprehensive approach covering both server-side and client-side GraphQL.

"I appreciate how it covers both server and client sides, giving a complete picture."

"The 'by hand' GraphQL client explanation before jumping into Apollo Client was a brilliant idea for understanding the underlying mechanics."

"It's great to see a course that doesn't just focus on the backend but also integrates it properly with the frontend."

Provides valuable real-world application through practical projects and examples.

"The examples are practical and truly help in understanding GraphQL from the ground up."

"Building a full-stack application piece by piece really solidifies the knowledge."

"The hands-on projects are super helpful. I feel much more confident in building GraphQL APIs now."

"I appreciate the 'by example' approach as it makes learning complex topics much more tangible."

Highly praised for its logical flow and clear, concise explanations.

"This course is incredibly well-structured and easy to follow. The instructor explains complex topics clearly."

"Fantastic course! The instructor's explanations are concise and on point."

"Excellent course! The instructor's ability to simplify complex topics is remarkable."

"I found the overall structure to be very logical and easy to grasp even for someone newer to GraphQL."

Some reviews indicate issues with outdated library versions and setup.

"The course has good intentions, but some of the dependencies are outdated. I spent a lot of time debugging setup issues..."

"While the core GraphQL concepts are explained, the course is quite old. The versions of libraries like Apollo Server and React are not current..."

"I struggled with environment setup and deprecated features. If you're willing to spend time on debugging version issues..."

"I found myself spending too much time troubleshooting version mismatches, which detracted from the learning experience."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in GraphQL by Example with these activities:

Review Javascript Basics

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of the core principles of JavaScript.

Browse courses on JavaScript

Show steps

Review basic data types, operators, and control flow
Practice writing simple functions and arrow functions
Check online resources for interactive JavaScript exercises

GraphQL Apollo Server Tutorial

Show steps

Build a solid foundation in using Apollo Server for GraphQL APIs.

Show steps

Follow the official Apollo Server tutorial for Node.js
Create a simple GraphQL API with basic queries and mutations
Explore additional features such as data loading and caching

GraphQL Query and Mutation Practice

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of GraphQL queries and mutations through hands-on practice.

Show steps

Write queries to retrieve data from a mock or real-world API
Construct mutations to create, update, or delete data
Test and debug queries and mutations

One other activity

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all four activities

Build a Portfolio Project

Show steps

Solidify your skills by creating a GraphQL-based project.

Show steps

Design a simple GraphQL schema and data model
Implement a GraphQL server using Apollo Server
Create a React frontend to interact with the GraphQL API

Career center

Learners who complete GraphQL by Example will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

GraphQL Developer

GraphQL Developers specialize in designing, developing, and maintaining GraphQL APIs. This course is a perfect fit for GraphQL Developers, as it covers all the essential concepts and best practices for building GraphQL applications. By taking this course, GraphQL Developers can gain a deep understanding of GraphQL's capabilities and limitations, and learn how to build scalable, performant, and secure GraphQL APIs.

See salaries and explore the career path for GraphQL Developer

Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course may be helpful for Software Developers who want to specialize in GraphQL development. By learning how to build GraphQL servers and clients, Developers can create applications that are data-centric, performant, and easy to use. Additionally, the course covers best practices for authentication, authorization, and caching, which are essential for building secure and scalable software systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Backend Developer

Backend Developers design, develop, and maintain the server-side of web applications. This course may be useful for Backend Developers who want to learn how to build GraphQL APIs. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building data-centric APIs, and by learning how to use it effectively, Backend Developers can create APIs that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Backend Developer

Full-Stack Developer

Full-Stack Developers design, develop, and maintain both the front-end and back-end of web applications. This course may be useful for Full-Stack Developers who want to learn how to build GraphQL applications. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building data-driven web applications, and by learning how to use it effectively, Full-Stack Developers can create applications that are fast, flexible, and easy to maintain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Full-Stack Developer

Web Developer

Web Developers design, develop, and maintain websites and web applications. This course may be useful for Web Developers who want to add GraphQL to their skillset. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building data-driven web applications, and by learning how to use it effectively, Web Developers can create applications that are fast, flexible, and easy to maintain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Database Administrator

Database Administrators design, implement, and maintain databases. This course may be useful for Database Administrators who want to learn how to build GraphQL APIs that access data from databases. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building data-centric APIs, and by learning how to use it effectively, Database Administrators can create APIs that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help businesses understand and improve their processes. This course may be useful for Business Analysts who want to learn how to use GraphQL to access and manipulate data. GraphQL is a powerful tool for data query and manipulation, and by learning how to use it effectively, Business Analysts can build data-driven applications that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. This course may be useful for Data Scientists who want to learn how to use GraphQL to access and manipulate data. GraphQL is a powerful tool for data query and manipulation, and by learning how to use it effectively, Data Scientists can build data-driven applications that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design, develop, and maintain machine learning models. This course may be useful for Machine Learning Engineers who want to learn how to use GraphQL to access and manipulate data. GraphQL is a powerful tool for data query and manipulation, and by learning how to use it effectively, Machine Learning Engineers can build data-driven machine learning models that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses make better decisions. This course may be useful for Data Analysts who want to learn how to use GraphQL to access and manipulate data. GraphQL is a powerful tool for data query and manipulation, and by learning how to use it effectively, Data Analysts can build data-driven applications that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers design, develop, and launch new products. This course may be useful for Product Managers who want to learn how to use GraphQL to build data-driven products. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building data-centric applications, and by learning how to use it effectively, Product Managers can create products that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

IT Consultant

IT Consultants help businesses plan, implement, and manage their IT systems. This course may be useful for IT Consultants who want to learn how to use GraphQL to build data-driven IT solutions. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building data-centric applications, and by learning how to use it effectively, IT Consultants can create solutions that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Consultant

Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. This course may be useful for Project Managers who want to learn how to use GraphQL to manage project data. GraphQL is a powerful tool for data query and manipulation, and by learning how to use it effectively, Project Managers can build data-driven project management tools that are fast, flexible, and easy to use.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Technical Writer

Technical Writers create user guides, manuals, and other documentation for software and hardware products. This course may be useful for Technical Writers who want to learn how to write documentation for GraphQL applications. GraphQL is a powerful tool for building data-centric applications, and by learning how to use it effectively, Technical Writers can create documentation that is clear, concise, and easy to follow.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Data Architect

A Data Architect plans and designs the architecture of data systems, ensuring that data is structured, organized, and accessible to meet the needs of an organization. This course may be useful for Data Architects, as it provides a solid foundation in GraphQL, a powerful tool for data query and manipulation. By understanding GraphQL's concepts and capabilities, Data Architects can design and implement data systems that are flexible, efficient, and scalable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Architect

GraphQL by Example

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical graphql for full-stack development

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses