graphql
n.n. a modern way for computers to talk to each other and share data. It lets a program ask for exactly the information it needs, and nothing more.
n. an open-source data query and manipulation language for APIs, and a runtime for fulfilling those queries with existing data. It allows clients to define the structure of the required data, which can prevent over-fetching and under-fetching from the server.
The developer used GraphQL to fetch the user's profile data.
By switching to GraphQL, the mobile app reduced its data usage because it only requested the specific fields needed for the display.
Unlike traditional REST architectures that require multiple round-trips to various endpoints, GraphQL enables a single request to aggregate data from nested resources efficiently.
A compound of the noun graph and the initialism QL, standing for Query Language. The term follows the naming convention of earlier database languages such as SQL.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used as a proper noun in technical documentation; frequently functions as a modifier in phrases like 'GraphQL schema' or 'GraphQL query'.
Last updated July 22, 2026