Inline Fragments in GraphQL

1. Introduction

GraphQL is a query language for APIs that enables clients to request exactly the data they need. One of the powerful features of GraphQL is the ability to use inline fragments, which allows you to query for different types of objects that share a common interface or union type.

2. What are Inline Fragments?

Inline fragments allow you to include fields based on the runtime type of an object. They are particularly useful when dealing with interfaces or union types, enabling more precise queries without needing multiple queries for different object types.

3. Syntax of Inline Fragments

The syntax for using inline fragments in a GraphQL query is as follows:

query {
  ... on TypeName {
    field1
    field2
  }
}
        

4. When to Use Inline Fragments

Use inline fragments when:

• Querying fields on an interface type.
• Handling union types where the specific type of the object is unknown.
• Reducing the number of queries needed to fetch different types of entities in a single request.

5. Best Practices

Here are some best practices to consider when using inline fragments:

1. Always ensure that the fields queried are valid for the specific type.
2. Avoid excessive nesting of inline fragments to maintain readability.
3. Use descriptive type names for better understanding of the query structure.

6. FAQ