A Beginner’s Guide to GraphQL Subscriptions: Real Time Data Updates

Therefore, with the current, fast timing schedules and rapidly developing technology, it has become very crucial to make use of real-time updates. From using an application for a chat, tracking the scores during a sporting event or even monitoring the fluctuations of stock shares, the user wants his/her screen to be updated with new information without having to refresh it manually. It is at this point that we come across GraphQL Subscriptions.

In this blog, you’ll learn what GraphQL Subscriptions are and how you can use this powerful feature in order to build real-time applications.

In GraphQL, a query can be used to usually retrieve data while mutations are used to manipulate data. However, both of these methods imply the usage of a request from the client to the server. What if it is required to get automatic updation in real time without having the need to poll the server continuously?

That is where GraphQL Subscriptions come in handy most especially for an event-based application. Subscriptions can essentially push updates to the client whenever a particular event happens making sure that there is no API call.

GraphQL Subscriptions whereby the active subscriptions are maintained over a connection established through WebSockets or other means. While queries and mutations are request-response operations, subscriptions remain open and wait for changes on the server.

Here is the general way it is implemented:

Client subscribes to an event : The client uses GraphQL request to subscribe to a certain event, for example, new messages in a chat.

The clients of course keep connected to the server for the duration of the program and the server waits for them to change data.

Server Pushes Updates : At any point if the event arises (for instance, a new message has been sent), then the server transmits the information to the connected clients.

Real-time Data Available for the Client : The interface renews in real-time no matter how many times the data is requested.

• Real-time Results : The users get new information at the earliest.
• Lower Traffic Management : there is no need to apply constant polling, which helps in traffic management.
• Straightforward : This is good for quick-response use cases such as messages, notifications, and live widgets.

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