description Apollo Federation Gateway Overview
The gateway component is the entry point for a federated graph. It acts as the single query endpoint that routes requests to the correct underlying service (e.g., the 'Product' service or the 'Cart' service). While essential for the pattern, using the gateway itself requires implementing and managing all the underlying services, making it a highly specialized, backend-focused tool.
help Apollo Federation Gateway FAQ
What does Apollo Federation Gateway do?
Apollo Federation Gateway, now commonly referred to through Apollo Router in newer architectures, presents one graph endpoint to clients. It plans a request across subgraphs such as Product and Cart, then combines the results.
What is a subgraph in Apollo Federation?
A subgraph is an independently deployed service that owns part of the federated schema. For example, a Product subgraph can own product fields while a Cart subgraph owns cart operations.
Does the gateway replace every backend service?
No. It coordinates requests but does not replace the underlying services, databases, or business rules. Clients call the gateway, while the gateway delegates work to the relevant subgraphs.
Is Apollo Federation compatible with Shopify's Storefront API?
Apollo Federation can sit in front of services that your team controls, while Shopify's Storefront API remains a separate GraphQL service. You would need an explicit integration layer to combine Shopify data with your own federated graph.
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