Boost Your React App Performance with GraphQL

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jigneshmayani90@gmail.com

Post Date

November 6, 2025

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Boost Your React App Performance with GraphQL

Written by

Jaydeep K.

Post Date

Nov 06, 2025

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In modern React applications, handling data efficiently is critical. While REST APIs have been the standard for years, GraphQL offers a more flexible and efficient alternative.
If you’ve ever struggled with overfetching data, making multiple API calls, or dealing with versioning headaches, GraphQL might be the solution you’ve been looking for.
In this post, we’ll explore why GraphQL is transforming how React developers work with APIs — and how it can simplify your workflow while boosting app performance.

What is GraphQL?

GraphQL is a query language for APIs developed by Facebook (now Meta) in 2012 and open-sourced in 2015.

Unlike REST APIs — where the server decides the response structure — GraphQL lets clients ask for exactly the data they need — nothing more, nothing less.

Think of it this way:

query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
    email
    posts {
      title
      createdAt
    }
  }
}

Response:

{
    "data": {
      "user": {
        "name": "John Doe",
        "email": "john@example.com",
        "posts": [
          {
            "title": "Getting Started with GraphQL",
            "createdAt": "2024-01-15"
          },
          {
            "title": "React Best Practices",
            "createdAt": "2024-02-20"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
}

Just what you asked for, without extra fields or missing data.

Why Use GraphQL in a React App?

GraphQL solves many pain points that React developers face when working with REST APIs.

Fetch Only What You Need

REST Problem: Over-fetching or underf-etching data.
GraphQL Solution: You specify exactly which fields you want.

query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
  }
}

Better Performance

With GraphQL, you can fetch related data in a single request.

REST (3 requests):

fetch('/users/123');
fetch('/users/123/posts');
fetch('/users/123/followers');

GraphQL (1 request):

query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
    posts { title }
    followers { name }
  }
}

Fewer requests mean faster load times and improved user experience.

Strongly Typed Schema

GraphQL uses a typed schema, which means:

type User {
  id: ID!
  name: String!
  email: String!
  posts: [Post!]!
}

type Post {
  id: ID!
  title: String!
  content: String!
  author: User!
}

Perfect Match for React

GraphQL works seamlessly with React using Apollo Client or Relay:

query {
  user(id: "123") {
    name
    email
    profilePicture
    bio
  }
}

No breaking changes and no version headaches.

Setting Up GraphQL in a React App

We’ll use Apollo Client, the most popular GraphQL client for React.

Step 1: Install Dependencies

npm install @apollo/client graphql

Step 2: Configure Apollo Client

import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache, ApolloProvider } from '@apollo/client';

const client = new ApolloClient({
  uri: 'https://api.spacex.land/graphql/',
  cache: new InMemoryCache(),
});

export default function App() {
  return (
    <ApolloProvider client={client}>
      <YourComponents />
    </ApolloProvider>
  );
}
  

Step 3: Fetch Data with `useQuery` Hook

import { gql, useQuery } from '@apollo/client';

const GET_LAUNCHES = gql`
  query GetLaunches {
    launchesPast(limit: 5) {
      mission_name
      rocket { rocket_name }
      launch_date_utc
      links { video_link }
    }
  }
`;

function Launches() {
  const { data, loading, error } = useQuery(GET_LAUNCHES);

  if (loading) return <p>Loading...</p>;
  if (error) return <p>Error: {error.message}</p>;

  return (
    <>
      <h2>Recent SpaceX Launches</h2>
      {data.launchesPast.map((launch) => (
        <div key={launch.mission_name}>
          <h3>{launch.mission_name}</h3>
          <p>Rocket: {launch.rocket.rocket_name}</p>
          <p>{new Date(launch.launch_date_utc).toDateString()}</p>
          <a href={launch.links.video_link} target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">
            Watch Launch
          </a>
        </div>
      ))}
    </>
  );
}

Step 4: Mutations (Create/Update Data)

import { gql, useMutation } from '@apollo/client';

const ADD_TODO = gql`
  mutation AddTodo($text: String!) {
    addTodo(text: $text) {
      id
      text
      completed
    }
  }
`;

function TodoForm() {
  const [addTodo, { loading, error }] = useMutation(ADD_TODO);

  const handleSubmit = async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    const text = e.target.todo.value;
    await addTodo({ variables: { text }, refetchQueries: ['GetTodos'] });
    e.target.reset();
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <input name="todo" placeholder="What needs to be done?" />
      <button type="submit" disabled={loading}>
        {loading ? 'Adding...' : 'Add Todo'}
      </button>
      {error && <p>Error: {error.message}</p>}
    </form>
  );
}

Step 5: Real-Time Updates (Subscriptions)

import { gql, useSubscription } from '@apollo/client';

const MESSAGE_SUBSCRIPTION = gql`
  subscription OnMessageAdded {
    messageAdded {
      id
      content
      user { name }
    }
  }
`;

function ChatMessages() {
  const { data, loading } = useSubscription(MESSAGE_SUBSCRIPTION);
  if (loading) return <p>Connecting...</p>;

  return (
    <div>
      <strong>{data.messageAdded.user.name}:</strong> {data.messageAdded.content}
    </div>
  );
}

Boost Your React App Performance with GraphQL

Boost Your React App Performance with GraphQL

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What is GraphQL?

Think of it this way:

Response:

Why Use GraphQL in a React App?

Fetch Only What You Need

Better Performance

REST (3 requests):

GraphQL (1 request):

Strongly Typed Schema

Perfect Match for React

Setting Up GraphQL in a React App

Step 1: Install Dependencies

Step 2: Configure Apollo Client

Step 3: Fetch Data with `useQuery` Hook

Step 4: Mutations (Create/Update Data)

Step 5: Real-Time Updates (Subscriptions)

REST vs GraphQL — A Quick Comparison

When NOT to Use GraphQL

Conclusion

When to use GraphQL:

When to stick with REST:

Next Steps

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