But why can't front-end developers just use SQL? You have to learn something in order to return the data, why is GraphQL a step forward if the end result is that front-end developers learn a query syntax? The data still lives in the database, there's just a new layer between them now.
The point of GraphQL is to have the front-end not learn new syntax. Front-end is already familiar with JSON, so GraphQL query is designed to mimic JSON. In contrast, SQL is very different from JSON.
The layer is for asynchronous cooperation. The GraphQL schema acts as the rendezvous point for all the front-end teams and back-end teams, instead of ad-hoc temporary team-to-team connections. It solves a scaling problem which not everyone has.
Yes agreed. I didn't literally mean writing SQL queries on the Frontend (poor articulation on my part), but rather, the concept of querying relational data from the client (using familiar JSON syntax, as you said). GraphQL still has a steep learning curve for most frontend devs though despite the JSON syntax
Because raw SQL queries should never be performed on the client.
Of course you're right in that the data still has to be stored somewhere, but GraphQL is generally much more flexible and efficient, because from a single endpoint one can traverse an entire dataset from the client, rather than calling many REST APIs or using crazy query parameters.
GraphQL is also great for federating many different microservices which is common in modern apps.
I agree the downside of GraphQL is a steep learning curve and extra burden for Frontend developers. But the trade-off is more efficient network requests and theoretically reduced workload for backend devs
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But why can't front-end developers just use SQL? You have to learn something in order to return the data, why is GraphQL a step forward if the end result is that front-end developers learn a query syntax? The data still lives in the database, there's just a new layer between them now.
The point of GraphQL is to have the front-end not learn new syntax. Front-end is already familiar with JSON, so GraphQL query is designed to mimic JSON. In contrast, SQL is very different from JSON.
The layer is for asynchronous cooperation. The GraphQL schema acts as the rendezvous point for all the front-end teams and back-end teams, instead of ad-hoc temporary team-to-team connections. It solves a scaling problem which not everyone has.
Yes agreed. I didn't literally mean writing SQL queries on the Frontend (poor articulation on my part), but rather, the concept of querying relational data from the client (using familiar JSON syntax, as you said). GraphQL still has a steep learning curve for most frontend devs though despite the JSON syntax
Because raw SQL queries should never be performed on the client.
Of course you're right in that the data still has to be stored somewhere, but GraphQL is generally much more flexible and efficient, because from a single endpoint one can traverse an entire dataset from the client, rather than calling many REST APIs or using crazy query parameters.
GraphQL is also great for federating many different microservices which is common in modern apps.
I agree the downside of GraphQL is a steep learning curve and extra burden for Frontend developers. But the trade-off is more efficient network requests and theoretically reduced workload for backend devs