GraphQL with Relay Conventions

GraphQL is two products: a query language (great) and a server pattern (foot-guns everywhere). Relay's spec is the cleaned-up server pattern. Adopt it even if your client isn't Relay — it eliminates 80% of GraphQL pathologies.

When to use

• New GraphQL API.
• You need fine-grained client-controlled data fetching (multi-team mobile/web).
• Federation across services with Apollo Federation v2.

When NOT to use

• Simple CRUD app — REST or tRPC is faster to build.
• Hyper-low-latency public API — query parsing + N+1 risk overhead.
• Internal admin tool — overkill.

Core Relay conventions