GraphQL Gateway
A GraphQL Gateway is a server-side component that acts as a single entry point for client applications to access multiple backend services or APIs through a unified GraphQL schema. It aggregates data from various sources, such as microservices, REST APIs, or databases, and provides a consistent GraphQL interface for querying and mutating data. This simplifies client-side development by reducing the need for multiple API calls and handling data composition centrally.
Developers should use a GraphQL Gateway when building applications that rely on multiple backend services, as it enables efficient data fetching and reduces over-fetching or under-fetching issues common in REST APIs. It is particularly useful in microservices architectures, where it can abstract service complexities, improve performance through batching and caching, and enhance security by centralizing authentication and authorization. For example, in e-commerce platforms, a gateway can combine product, inventory, and user data from separate services into a single query.