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GraphQL (Apollo Federation)

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description GraphQL (Apollo Federation) Overview

Apollo Federation allows independently developed GraphQL services, called subgraphs, to contribute to a unified API schema. GraphQL defines how clients request data, while Federation supplies an approach for combining service schemas and resolving requests across them. Clients can ask for specific fields through one entry point instead of coordinating calls to each underlying service themselves. This approach suits organizations whose teams own different parts of a shared data model.

It addresses cross-service composition while allowing ownership to remain distributed. The distinction is between the common interface seen by clients and the separate services behind it. Federation still requires careful decisions about shared types and responsibilities.

help GraphQL (Apollo Federation) FAQ

What problem does Apollo Federation solve in GraphQL?

Apollo Federation lets multiple teams own separate GraphQL subgraphs while exposing one composed supergraph to clients. It is meant for organizations where a single monolithic GraphQL schema would become a bottleneck.

What are subgraphs and a supergraph in Apollo Federation?

A subgraph is one service's part of the overall GraphQL schema, such as products, users, or payments. The supergraph is the composed schema that Apollo Router or a gateway presents to frontend clients.

Why are entity keys important in Apollo Federation?

Federation uses entity definitions and keys, such as a Product identified by an id, so fields for the same object can be resolved across services. The @key directive is one of the core mechanics that lets subgraphs extend shared entities.

How is Apollo Federation different from old GraphQL schema stitching?

Schema stitching usually joins schemas at the gateway with more manual resolver work. Apollo Federation puts ownership boundaries into the schema contract, then uses composition checks so teams can change subgraphs with fewer surprises.

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