The first time we wrote about GraphQL, back in 2017, we described it as a shiny new tool developed by Facebook.

GraphCMS, which we presented in that article, was one of the first softwares to use it as a core feature.

It was just another drop in a sea of development tools. No biggie, right?

Not quite.

I think we can all agree that GraphQL is now integral to the modern web ecosystem.

Proof #1: the number of static site generators and headless CMSs making it a prime built-in feature has been skyrocketing in the last few months.

One of them being TakeShape.io, which I’ll explore further in a technical demo at the end of this post.

First, I want to take a look at:

• The state of GraphQL in 2019
• The benefits it brings to headless CMSs
• The tools that feature GraphQL
• An introduction to TakeShape.io

Let’s begin by wrapping our heads around the concepts behind GraphQL.

1. Getting up-to-date with GraphQL

You may be reading without even knowing what GraphQL really is. For clarity’s sake, it’s a query language for APIs that defines how to fetch data from one or many databases.

For a proper technical GraphQL introduction I suggest our first post on the matter.

A lot has changed since its first use case with FB mobile apps back in 2012, mostly regarding its adoption. GraphQL was open-sourced in 2015, giving it an initial burst of life for a larger number of devs. 4 years later, its rising presence in our industry is undeniable.

Proof #2 that GraphQL is an integral part of web development: its adoption by tech giants. Apart from Facebook, other major players like GitHub, Shopify, Pinterest, Paypal & Twitter all use GraphQL in some way or another.

→ Read the full post and technical tutorial here