Using the GraphiQL IDE graphiql-ide
An implementation of the standard GraphiQL IDE is available for use with the GraphQL API of Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) as a Cloud Service.
The GraphiQL tool lets you test and debug your GraphQL queries by enabling you to:
- select the Endpoint appropriate to the Sites configuration that you want to use for your queries
- directly input new queries
- create, and access, Persisted Queries
- run your queries to immediately see the results
- manage Query Variables
- save, and manage Persisted Queries
- publish, or unpublish, Persisted Queries, to either your Publish or Preview service; for example, to/from
dev-publish - see the History of your previous queries
- use the Documentation Explorer to access the documentation; helping you to learn and understand what methods are available.
You can access the query editor from either:
- Tools > General > GraphQL Query Editor
- directly; for example,
http://localhost:4502/aem/graphiql.html
You can use GraphiQL on your system so that queries can be requested by your client application using GET requests, and for publishing queries. For production usage, you can then move your queries to your production environment. Initially to production author for validating newly authored content with the queries, and finally production publish for live consumption.
Selecting your endpoint selecting-endpoint
As a first step you need to select the Endpoint that you want to use for the queries. The endpoint is appropriate to the Sites configuration that you want to use for your queries.
This is available from the drop-down list at the top-right.
Creating, and persisting, a new query creating-new-query
You can enter your new query in the editor - which is in the middle-left panel, directly under the GraphiQL logo.
+ (next to Persisted Queries) to empty the editor ready for your new query.Just start typing, the editor also:
- uses mouse-over to show you additional information about elements
- provides features such as syntax-highlighting, auto-complete, auto-suggest
{ character.# are ignored.Use Save As to persist your new query.
Updating your persisted query updating-persisted-query
Select the query you want to update from the list in the Persisted Queries panel (far left).
The query is shown in the editor panel. Make any changes you need, then use Save to commit your updates to the persisted query.
Running queries running-queries
You can run a new query immediately, or you can load and run a persisted query. To load a persisted query, select it from the list - the query is shown in the editor panel.
In either case, the query showing in the editor panel is the query that is run when you either:
- select on the Execute Query icon
- use the keyboard combination
Control-Enter
Query variables query-variables
The GraphiQL IDE also lets you manage your Query Variables.
For example:
Managing cache for your persisted queries managing-cache
Persisted queries are recommended as they can be cached at the dispatcher and CDN layers, ultimately improving the performance of the requesting client application. By default AEM will invalidate the Content Delivery Network (CDN) cache based on a default Time To Live (TTL).
/graphql/execute.json/* from the matches.Using GraphQL you can configure the HTTP Cache Headers to control these parameters for your individual persisted query.
-
The Headers option is accessible via the three vertical dots to the right of the persisted query name (far left panel):
-
Selecting this opens the Cache Configuration dialog box:
-
Select the appropriate parameter, then adjust the value as required:
- cache-control - max-age
Caches can store this content for specified number of seconds. Typically this is the browser TTL (Time To Live). - surrogate-control - s-maxage
Same as max-age but applies specifically to proxy caches. - surrogate-control - stale-while-revalidate
Caches may continue to serve a cached response after it becomes stale, for up to the specified number of seconds. - surrogate-control - stale-if-error
Caches may continue to serve a cached response in case of or origin error, for up to the specified number of seconds.
- cache-control - max-age
-
Select Save to persist the changes.
Publishing and previewing persisted queries publishing-previewing-persisted-queries
Once you have selected your persisted query from the list (left panel) you can use the Publish action.
This will activate the query to the environment you select. You can choose either your Publish environment (for example, dev-publish), or your Preview environment for easy access by your applications when testing.
Time To Live {“cache-control”:“parameter”:value} has a default value of 2 hours (7200 seconds).Unpublishing persisted queries unpublishing-persisted-queries
As when publishing, once you have selected your persisted query from the list (left panel) you can use the Unpublish action.
This will deactivate the query from the environment you select; either your Publish environment, or your Preview environment.
Copy URL to directly access the query copy-url
The Copy URL option lets you simulate a query, by copying the URL used to directly access the persisted query and see the results. This can then be used for testing; for example, by accessing in a browser:
For example:
http://localhost:4502/graphql/execute.json/global/article-list-01
By using this URL in a browser, you can confirm the results:
The Copy URL option is accessible via the three vertical dots to the right of the persisted query name (far left panel):
Deleting persisted queries deleting-persisted-queries
The Delete option is also accessible via the three vertical dots to the right of the persisted query name (far left panel).
Installing your Persisted Query on Production installing-persisted-query-production
After developing and testing your persisted query with GraphiQL, the final goal is to transfer it to your production environment for use by your applications.
Keyboard shortcuts keyboard-shortcuts
There are a selection of keyboard shortcuts that provide direct access to action icons in the IDE:
- Prettify Query:
Shift-Control-P - Merge Query:
Shift-Control-M - Execute Query:
Control-Enter - Auto Complete:
Control-Space
Control key is labelled as Ctrl.