GraphQL Federation
GraphQL federation is an architecture where multiple independent GraphQL services, called subgraphs, are composed into a single unified schema called a supergraph. A router receives client queries and plans execution across the subgraphs that own each field.
Technical Architecture & Deep-Dive
Federation lets separate teams own parts of a GraphQL schema while clients see one API. A gateway or router stitches entities together across services, resolving references like a user object that spans accounts and billing subgraphs.
Federation is powerful for large organizations already invested in GraphQL, but it adds schema registries, router infrastructure, and operational overhead. Teams integrating third-party REST APIs often achieve the same unified response with a lightweight edge composition layer and declarative output mapping.
Key Architectural Benefits
Implement GraphQL Federation at the Edge
Deploy lightweight API aggregation, edge caching, and secret injection in minutes without Docker containers or complex servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Do I need federation to combine third-party APIs?
No. Federation is designed for GraphQL services you own. For combining SaaS REST APIs, an edge aggregation pipeline is simpler and needs no GraphQL server.
Related Architecture Concepts
GraphQL is a query language and runtime for APIs in which clients send a query describing exactly the fields they need, and the server returns JSON matching that shape. A strongly typed schema defines available data, and a single endpoint replaces many REST routes.
API composition is a pattern where a composer layer calls multiple upstream services, then combines and transforms their results into a single response. It lets clients retrieve data owned by different systems, such as a CRM and a billing provider, through one request.
Microservices architecture structures an application as a collection of small, independently deployable services, each owning a single business capability and its data. Services communicate over APIs or messaging, allowing teams to build, scale, and release parts of the system separately.