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GraphQL Explorer

1 min read
Pronunciation
[graf-kyoo-el eks-plor-er]
Analogy
Like a sandbox playground where you can experiment with API calls and see immediate results before building production code.
Definition
An interactive development environment for composing, validating, and testing GraphQL queries against a live API, often featuring auto‑completion and documentation panes.
Key Points Intro
GraphQL Explorers streamline API onboarding by providing real‑time feedback on query structure and results.
Key Points

Auto‑complete: Suggests types and fields as you type.

Documentation view: Displays schema and field descriptions.

Query history: Saves recent queries for reuse.

Real‑time results: Executes queries and shows JSON responses instantly.

Example
Developers use GraphiQL or Apollo Sandbox to browse a subgraph’s schema and test queries fetching block data and token balances.
Technical Deep Dive
Explorer clients load schema via introspection query (`__schema`), build a client-side representation, and provide an editor with syntax highlighting and validation. Executed queries are sent over HTTP or WebSocket to the GraphQL server.
Security Warning
Exposing explorer in production can leak schema details; restrict access or disable introspection in sensitive environments.
Caveat
Public explorers may incur rate limits; consider local instances for heavy testing.
Related Terms
GraphQL API

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