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GraphQL plugin

🏗 Work in progress

The content of this page might not be fully up-to-date with Strapi 5 yet.

By default Strapi create REST endpoints for each of your content-types. With the GraphQL plugin, you will be able to add a GraphQL endpoint to fetch and mutate your content.

🤓 Looking for the GraphQL API documentation?

The GraphQL API reference describes queries, mutations and parameters you can use to interact with your API using Strapi's GraphQL plugin.

Usage​

To get started with GraphQL in your application, please install the plugin first. To do that, open your terminal and run the following command:

yarn add @strapi/plugin-graphql

Then, start your app and open your browser at http://localhost:1337/graphql. You should now be able to access the GraphQL Playground that will help you to write your GraphQL queries and mutations.

✏️ Note

The GraphQL Playground is enabled by default for both the development and staging environments, but disabled in production environments. Set the playgroundAlways configuration option to true to also enable the GraphQL Playground in production environments (see plugins configuration documentation).

Configuration​

Plugins configuration are defined in the config/plugins.js file. This configuration file can include a graphql.config object to define specific configurations for the GraphQL plugin (see plugins configuration documentation).

Apollo Server options can be set with the graphql.config.apolloServer configuration object. Apollo Server options can be used for instance to enable the tracing feature, which is supported by the GraphQL playground to track the response time of each part of your query. From Apollo Server version 3.9 default cache option is cache: 'bounded'. You can change it in the apolloServer configuration. For more information visit Apollo Server Docs.

✋ Caution

The maximum number of items returned by the response is limited to 100 by default. This value can be changed using the amountLimit configuration option, but should only be changed after careful consideration: a large query can cause a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) and may cause abnormal load on your Strapi server, as well as your database server.

./config/plugins.js

module.exports = {
  //
  graphql: {
    config: {
      endpoint: '/graphql',
      shadowCRUD: true,
      playgroundAlways: false,
      depthLimit: 7,
      amountLimit: 100,
      apolloServer: {
        tracing: false,
      },
    },
  },
};

Shadow CRUD​

To simplify and automate the build of the GraphQL schema, we introduced the Shadow CRUD feature. It automatically generates the type definitions, queries, mutations and resolvers based on your models.

Example:

If you've generated an API called Document using the interactive strapi generate CLI or the administration panel, your model looks like this:

./src/api/[api-name]/content-types/document/schema.json

{
  "kind": "collectionType",
  "collectionName": "documents",
  "info": {
    "singularName": "document",
    "pluralName": "documents",
    "displayName": "document",
    "name": "document"
  },
  "options": {
    "draftAndPublish": true
  },
  "pluginOptions": {},
  "attributes": {
    "name": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "description": {
      "type": "richtext"
    },
    "locked": {
      "type": "boolean"
    }
  }
}
Generated GraphQL type and queries
# Document's Type definition
input DocumentFiltersInput {
  name: StringFilterInput
  description: StringFilterInput
  locked: BooleanFilterInput
  createdAt: DateTimeFilterInput
  updatedAt: DateTimeFilterInput
  publishedAt: DateTimeFilterInput
  and: [DocumentFiltersInput]
  or: [DocumentFiltersInput]
  not: DocumentFiltersInput
}

input DocumentInput {
  name: String
  description: String
  locked: Boolean
  createdAt: DateTime
  updatedAt: DateTime
  publishedAt: DateTime
}

type Document {
  name: String
  description: String
  locked: Boolean
  createdAt: DateTime
  updatedAt: DateTime
  publishedAt: DateTime
}

type DocumentEntity {
  id: ID
  attributes: Document
}

type DocumentEntityResponse {
  data: DocumentEntity
}

type DocumentEntityResponseCollection {
  data: [DocumentEntity!]!
  meta: ResponseCollectionMeta!
}

type DocumentRelationResponseCollection {
  data: [DocumentEntity!]!
}

# Queries to retrieve one or multiple restaurants.
type Query  {
  document(id: ID): DocumentEntityResponse
  documents(
    filters: DocumentFiltersInput
    pagination: PaginationArg = {}
    sort: [String] = []
    publicationState: PublicationState = LIVE
):DocumentEntityResponseCollection
}

# Mutations to create, update or delete a restaurant.
type Mutation {
  createDocument(data: DocumentInput!): DocumentEntityResponse
  updateDocument(id: ID!, data: DocumentInput!): DocumentEntityResponse
  deleteDocument(id: ID!): DocumentEntityResponse
}

Customization​

Strapi provides a programmatic API to customize GraphQL, which allows:

  • disabling some operations for the Shadow CRUD
  • using getters to return information about allowed operations
  • registering and using an extension object to extend the existing schema (e.g. extend types or define custom resolvers, policies and middlewares)
Example of GraphQL customizations
./src/index.js

module.exports = {
  /**
   * An asynchronous register function that runs before
   * your application is initialized.
   *
   * This gives you an opportunity to extend code.
   */
  register({ strapi }) {
    const extensionService = strapi.plugin('graphql').service('extension');
    
    extensionService.shadowCRUD('api::restaurant.restaurant').disable();
    extensionService.shadowCRUD('api::category.category').disableQueries();
    extensionService.shadowCRUD('api::address.address').disableMutations();
    extensionService.shadowCRUD('api::document.document').field('locked').disable();
    extensionService.shadowCRUD('api::like.like').disableActions(['create', 'update', 'delete']);
    
    const extension = ({ nexus }) => ({
      // Nexus
      types: [
        nexus.objectType({
          name: 'Book',
          definition(t) {
            t.string('title');
          },
        }),
      ],
      plugins: [
        nexus.plugin({
          name: 'MyPlugin',
          onAfterBuild(schema) {
            console.log(schema);
          },
        }),
      ],
      // GraphQL SDL
      typeDefs: `
          type Article {
              name: String
          }
      `,
      resolvers: {
        Query: {
          address: {
            resolve() {
              return { value: { city: 'Montpellier' } };
            },
          },
        },
      },
      resolversConfig: {
        'Query.address': {
          auth: false,
        },
      },
    });
    extensionService.use(extension);
  },
};

Disabling operations in the Shadow CRUD​

The extension service provided with the GraphQL plugin exposes functions that can be used to disable operations on Content-Types:

Content-type functionDescriptionArgument typePossible argument values
disable()Fully disable the Content-Type--
disableQueries()Only disable queries for the Content-Type--
disableMutations()Only disable mutations for the Content-Type--
disableAction()Disable a specific action for the Content-TypeStringOne value from the list:
  • create
  • find
  • findOne
  • update
  • delete
disableActions()Disable specific actions for the Content-TypeArray of StringsMultiple values from the list:
  • create
  • find
  • findOne
  • update
  • delete

Actions can also be disabled at the field level, with the following functions:

Field functionDescription
disable()Fully disable the field
disableOutput()Disable the output on a field
disableInput()Disable the input on a field
disableFilters()Disable filters input on a field

Examples:

// Disable the 'find' operation on the 'restaurant' content-type in the 'restaurant' API
strapi
  .plugin('graphql')
  .service('extension')
  .shadowCRUD('api::restaurant.restaurant')
  .disableAction('find')

// Disable the 'name' field on the 'document' content-type in the 'document' API
strapi
  .plugin('graphql')
  .service('extension')
  .shadowCRUD('api::document.document')
  .field('name')
  .disable()

Using getters​

The following getters can be used to retrieve information about operations allowed on content-types:

Content-type getterDescriptionArgument typePossible argument values
isEnabled()Returns whether a content-type is enabled--
isDisabled()Returns whether a content-type is disabled--
areQueriesEnabled()Returns whether queries are enabled on a content-type--
areQueriesDisabled()Returns whether queries are disabled on a content-type--
areMutationsEnabled()Returns whether mutations are enabled on a content-type--
areMutationsDisabled()Returns whether mutations are disabled on a content-type--
isActionEnabled(action)Returns whether the passed action is enabled on a content-typeStringOne value from the list:
  • create
  • find
  • findOne
  • update
  • delete
isActionDisabled(action)Returns whether the passed action is disabled on a content-typeStringOne value from the list:
  • create
  • find
  • findOne
  • update
  • delete

The following getters can be used to retrieve information about operations allowed on fields:

Field getterDescription
isEnabled()Returns whether a field is enabled
isDisabled()Returns whether a field is disabled
hasInputEnabled()Returns whether a field has input enabled
hasOutputEnabled()Returns whether a field has output enabled
hasFiltersEnabled()Returns whether a field has filtering enabled

Extending the schema​

The schema generated by the Content API can be extended by registering an extension.

This extension, defined either as an object or a function returning an object, will be used by the use() function exposed by the extension service provided with the GraphQL plugin.

The object describing the extension accepts the following parameters:

ParameterTypeDescription
typesArrayAllows extending the schema types using Nexus-based type definitions
typeDefsStringAllows extending the schema types using GraphQL SDL
pluginsArrayAllows extending the schema using Nexus plugins
resolversObjectDefines custom resolvers
resolversConfigObjectDefines configuration options for the resolvers, such as authorization, policies and middlewares
💡 Tip

The types and plugins parameters are based on Nexus. To use them, register the extension as a function that takes nexus as a parameter:

Example:
./src/index.js

module.exports = {
  register({ strapi }) {
    const extension = ({ nexus }) => ({
      types: [
        nexus.objectType({
          …
        }),
      ],
      plugins: [
        nexus.plugin({
          …
        })
      ]
    })

    strapi.plugin('graphql').service('extension').use(extension)
  }
}

Custom configuration for resolvers​

A resolver is a GraphQL query or mutation handler (i.e. a function, or a collection of functions, that generate(s) a response for a GraphQL query or mutation). Each field has a default resolver.

When extending the GraphQL schema, the resolversConfig key can be used to define a custom configuration for a resolver, which can include:

Authorization configuration​

By default, the authorization of a GraphQL request is handled by the registered authorization strategy that can be either API token or through the Users & Permissions plugin. The Users & Permissions plugin offers a more granular control.

Authorization with the Users & Permissions plugin

With the Users & Permissions plugin, a GraphQL request is allowed if the appropriate permissions are given.

For instance, if a 'Category' content-type exists and is queried through GraphQL with the Query.categories handler, the request is allowed if the appropriate find permission for the 'Categories' content-type is given.

To query a single category, which is done with the Query.category handler, the request is allowed if the the findOne permission is given.

Please refer to the user guide on how to define permissions with the Users & Permissions plugin.

To change how the authorization is configured, use the resolver configuration defined at resolversConfig.[MyResolverName]. The authorization can be configured:

  • either with auth: false to fully bypass the authorization system and allow all requests,
  • or with a scope attribute that accepts an array of strings to define the permissions required to authorize the request.
Examples of authorization configuration
./src/index.js

module.exports = {
  register({ strapi }) {
    const extensionService = strapi.plugin('graphql').service('extension');

    extensionService.use({
      resolversConfig: {
        'Query.categories': {
          /**
           * Querying the Categories content-type
           * bypasses the authorization system.
           */ 
          auth: false
        },
        'Query.restaurants': {
          /**
           * Querying the Restaurants content-type
           * requires the find permission
           * on the 'Address' content-type
           * of the 'Address' API
           */
          auth: {
            scope: ['api::address.address.find']
          }
        },
      }
    })
  }
}

Policies​

Policies can be applied to a GraphQL resolver through the resolversConfig.[MyResolverName].policies key.

The policies key is an array accepting a list of policies, each item in this list being either a reference to an already registered policy or an implementation that is passed directly (see policies configuration documentation).

Policies directly implemented in resolversConfig are functions that take a context object and the strapi instance as arguments. The context object gives access to:

  • the parent, args, context and info arguments of the GraphQL resolver,
  • Koa's context with context.http and state with context.state.
Example of GraphQL policies applied to resolvers
./src/index.js

module.exports = {
  register({ strapi }) {
    const extensionService = strapi.plugin('graphql').service('extension');

    extensionService.use({
      resolversConfig: {
        'Query.categories': {
          policies: [
            (context, { strapi }) => {
              console.log('hello', context.parent)
              /**
               * If 'categories' have a parent, the function returns true,
               * so the request won't be blocked by the policy.
               */ 
              return context.parent !== undefined;
            }
            /**
             * Uses a policy already created in Strapi.
             */
            "api::model.policy-name",

            /**
             * Uses a policy already created in Strapi with a custom configuration
             */
            {name:"api::model.policy-name", config: {/* all config values I want to pass to the strapi policy */} },
          ],
          auth: false,
        },
      }
    })
  }
}
Middlewares​

Middlewares can be applied to a GraphQL resolver through the resolversConfig.[MyResolverName].middlewares key. The only difference between the GraphQL and REST implementations is that the config key becomes options.

The middlewares key is an array accepting a list of middlewares, each item in this list being either a reference to an already registered middleware or an implementation that is passed directly (see middlewares configuration documentation).

Middlewares directly implemented in resolversConfig can take the GraphQL resolver's parent, args, context and info objects as arguments.

💡 Tip

Middlewares with GraphQL can even act on nested resolvers, which offer a more granular control than with REST.

Examples of GraphQL middlewares applied to a resolver

module.exports = {
  register({ strapi }) {
    const extensionService = strapi.plugin('graphql').service('extension');

    extensionService.use({
      resolversConfig: {
        'Query.categories': {
          middlewares: [
            /**
             * Basic middleware example #1
             * Log resolving time in console
             */
            async (next, parent, args, context, info) => {
              console.time('Resolving categories');
              
              // call the next resolver
              const res = await next(parent, args, context, info);
              
              console.timeEnd('Resolving categories');

              return res;
            },
            /**
             * Basic middleware example #2
             * Enable server-side shared caching
             */
            async (next, parent, args, context, info) => {
              info.cacheControl.setCacheHint({ maxAge: 60, scope: "PUBLIC" });
              return next(parent, args, context, info);
            },
            /**
             * Basic middleware example #3
             * change the 'name' attribute of parent with id 1 to 'foobar'
             */
            (resolve, parent, ...rest) => {
              if (parent.id === 1) {
                return resolve({...parent, name: 'foobar' }, ...rest);
              }

              return resolve(parent, ...rest);
            }
            /**
             * Basic middleware example #4
             * Uses a middleware already created in Strapi.
             */
            "api::model.middleware-name",

            /**
             * Basic middleware example #5
             * Uses a middleware already created in Strapi with a custom configuration
             */
            { name: "api::model.middleware-name", options: { /* all config values I want to pass to the strapi middleware */ } },
          ],
          auth: false,
        },
      }
    })
  }
}

Usage with the Users & Permissions plugin​

The Users & Permissions plugin is an optional plugin that allows protecting the API with a full authentication process.

Registration​

Usually you need to sign up or register before being recognized as a user then perform authorized requests.

Mutation
mutation {
  register(input: { username: "username", email: "email", password: "password" }) {
    jwt
    user {
      username
      email
    }
  }
}

You should see a new user is created in the Users collection type in your Strapi admin panel.

Authentication​

To perform authorized requests, you must first get a JWT:

Mutation
mutation {
  login(input: { identifier: "email", password: "password" }) {
    jwt
  }
}

Then on each request, send along an Authorization header in the form of { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_JWT_GOES_HERE" }. This can be set in the HTTP Headers section of your GraphQL Playground.

API tokens​

To use API tokens for authentication, pass the token in the Authorization header using the format Bearer your-api-token.

✏️ Note

Using API tokens in the the GraphQL playground requires adding the authorization header with your token in the HTTP HEADERS tab:

{
  "Authorization" : "Bearer <TOKEN>"
}

Replace <TOKEN> with your API token generated in the Strapi Admin panel.

Security​

GraphQL is a query language allowing users to use a broader panel of inputs than traditional REST APIs. GraphQL APIs are inherently prone to security risks, such as credential leakage and denial of service attacks, that can be reduced by taking appropriate precautions.

Disable introspection and playground in production​

In production environments, disabling the GraphQL Playground and the introspection query is recommended. If you haven't edited the configuration file, it is already disabled in production by default.

Limit max depth and complexity​

A malicious user could send a query with a very high depth, which could overload your server. Use the depthLimit configuration parameter to limit the maximum number of nested fields that can be queried in a single request. By default, depthLimit is set to 10 but can be set to a higher value during testing and development.

💡 Tip

To increase GraphQL security even further, 3rd-party tools can be used. See the guide about using GraphQL Armor with Strapi on the forum.