GraphQL Tutorial #4 - Is GraphQL a database technology ?

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No, GraphQL is not a database technology. It's a query language for APIs and a runtime for executing those queries by using a type system you define for your data. GraphQL provides a more efficient, powerful, and flexible alternative to the traditional REST API.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

1. **Query Language for APIs:** GraphQL allows clients to request exactly what they need and nothing more. It lets you describe your data, ask for what you want, and get predictable results.

2. **Server-Side Runtime:** GraphQL is executed on the server side. It parses, validates, and executes queries made against your API's data.

3. **Type System:** You define types in GraphQL, and these types describe the shape of your data, allowing you to specify exactly what data can be queried.

4. **Independent of Data Storage:** GraphQL is agnostic about the data storage layer. It's not tied to any specific database or storage engine. It's purely a layer that sits in front of your data sources, whether they are SQL databases, NoSQL databases, file systems, external APIs, etc.

5. **Resolver Functions:** In GraphQL, you write resolver functions to fetch data. These functions retrieve data from whichever data source you want to use, making GraphQL versatile in how and where it gets data.

So, while GraphQL can be used to interact with databases, it is not a database technology itself. It's more of an intermediary layer that handles data requests and delivery between the client and the server/database.