GraphQL on JavaScript (Node.js): A Complete Guide to Building Modern APIs

This book is a practical guide to building modern, flexible, and high-performance APIs using GraphQL and Node.js. If you are already familiar with the basics of JavaScript and want to move from REST to a more efficient query architecture, this edition is for you.

GraphQL changes the approach to API development: instead of multiple endpoints, you get a single entry point, and the client itself decides what data it needs. The book covers the full cycle of working with GraphQL: from schema design to production deployment.

What you will learn:

• GraphQL Basics: types, queries, mutations, subscriptions — how this technology works and why it is better than REST.
• Apollo Server: server setup, middleware, integration with Express and other Node.js frameworks.
• Schemas and Resolvers: creating strictly typed schemas, writing efficient resolvers, working with arguments and context.
• Databases: connecting MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and other databases via resolvers, implementing the N+1 problem and solving it with DataLoader.
• Subscriptions: real-time updates via WebSocket, creating chats, notifications, and live feeds.
• Security: authentication and authorization, protection against injections, query depth limiting, and rate limiting.
• Testing: unit tests for resolvers, integration testing of GraphQL queries, mock data.
• Production: deployment on Heroku, Docker containerization, monitoring, and logging.

Who this book is for:

• Node.js backend developers wanting to master GraphQL
• Full-stack developers who want to create flexible APIs for React/Angular/Vue
• DevOps engineers implementing modern API standards
• Students and beginner programmers with basic JavaScript knowledge

The book contains over 50 practical examples, ready-to-use code blocks, and exercises to reinforce the material. All examples are tested on Node.js 18+ and are compatible with the latest versions of Apollo Server.

After reading, you will be able to independently design and implement a GraphQL API of any complexity: from a simple blog to a corporate system with a microservice architecture.

Format: PDF, EPUB. The source code for the examples is available on GitHub.