graphql-yoga vs graphql-http vs express-graphql vs apollo-server
GraphQL Server Libraries Comparison
1 Year
graphql-yogagraphql-httpexpress-graphqlapollo-serverSimilar Packages:
What's GraphQL Server Libraries?

GraphQL server libraries are tools that facilitate the implementation of GraphQL APIs, allowing developers to define schemas, handle queries and mutations, and manage data fetching efficiently. These libraries provide various features that cater to different use cases, from simple setups to more complex, production-ready applications. They help streamline the development process by providing built-in functionalities like middleware support, subscriptions, and easy integration with existing frameworks, ultimately improving developer productivity and API performance.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
graphql-yoga491,6578,314273 kB150a day agoMIT
graphql-http386,912330406 kB9a month agoMIT
express-graphql267,8966,321-554 years agoMIT
apollo-server180,01113,84726.6 kB94a year agoMIT
Feature Comparison: graphql-yoga vs graphql-http vs express-graphql vs apollo-server

Ease of Use

  • graphql-yoga:

    GraphQL Yoga offers a developer-friendly experience with sensible defaults and built-in features. It simplifies the setup process and provides a great starting point for new projects, making it accessible for beginners.

  • graphql-http:

    GraphQL HTTP is extremely lightweight and easy to set up. It provides a simple way to create a GraphQL endpoint with minimal configuration, making it ideal for quick implementations or learning purposes.

  • express-graphql:

    Express-GraphQL is simple to integrate into existing Express applications. It requires minimal configuration and allows developers to quickly expose a GraphQL endpoint, making it an excellent choice for those already familiar with Express.

  • apollo-server:

    Apollo Server is designed to be user-friendly, with a straightforward setup process. It provides extensive documentation and a rich set of features that make it easy to implement complex GraphQL schemas and resolvers without much boilerplate code.

Integration

  • graphql-yoga:

    GraphQL Yoga is built on top of Express and integrates well with various tools and libraries in the Node.js ecosystem. It provides built-in support for features like subscriptions and file uploads, making it a versatile choice.

  • graphql-http:

    GraphQL HTTP is designed to be framework-agnostic, allowing it to be used with any HTTP server. This flexibility makes it easy to integrate into various environments, although it may require additional setup for more complex use cases.

  • express-graphql:

    Express-GraphQL is designed to work within the Express ecosystem, allowing developers to leverage existing middleware and routing capabilities. This makes it easy to integrate GraphQL into applications that already use Express.

  • apollo-server:

    Apollo Server integrates seamlessly with various data sources, including REST APIs, databases, and other GraphQL services. It also works well with Apollo Client, allowing for a cohesive development experience across the stack.

Performance

  • graphql-yoga:

    GraphQL Yoga is designed for performance with features like automatic persisted queries and subscriptions. It aims to provide a balance between ease of use and performance, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

  • graphql-http:

    GraphQL HTTP is minimalistic and performs efficiently for simple use cases. However, for more complex applications, developers may need to implement their own performance optimizations.

  • express-graphql:

    Express-GraphQL is lightweight and performs well for most use cases. However, it may require additional optimization for high-traffic applications, as it does not include built-in performance enhancements like caching.

  • apollo-server:

    Apollo Server is optimized for performance, offering features like query batching and caching out of the box. It also provides tools for monitoring and optimizing performance in production environments, ensuring efficient data fetching.

Community and Ecosystem

  • graphql-yoga:

    GraphQL Yoga has a growing community and is part of the larger GraphQL ecosystem. It provides access to various tools and integrations, making it a solid choice for developers looking for a modern solution.

  • graphql-http:

    GraphQL HTTP is relatively new and has a smaller community. While it is straightforward to use, it may lack the extensive resources and support found in more established libraries.

  • express-graphql:

    Express-GraphQL benefits from the large Express community, providing access to a wealth of middleware and resources. However, its ecosystem is more limited compared to Apollo Server.

  • apollo-server:

    Apollo Server has a large and active community, with extensive resources, plugins, and integrations available. This ecosystem provides support for various tools and libraries, making it a popular choice for developers.

Flexibility

  • graphql-yoga:

    GraphQL Yoga strikes a balance between flexibility and ease of use, providing sensible defaults while allowing customization for more advanced features. It is suitable for both quick prototypes and production-ready applications.

  • graphql-http:

    GraphQL HTTP is highly flexible due to its minimalistic design, allowing developers to build their own custom solutions around it. However, this may require more effort for complex implementations.

  • express-graphql:

    Express-GraphQL provides flexibility in how you structure your GraphQL server within an Express application. However, it may require more manual configuration for advanced use cases compared to other libraries.

  • apollo-server:

    Apollo Server offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing developers to customize their GraphQL implementation extensively. It supports various data sources and integrations, making it adaptable to different project requirements.

How to Choose: graphql-yoga vs graphql-http vs express-graphql vs apollo-server
  • graphql-yoga:

    Choose GraphQL Yoga if you want an easy-to-use and flexible GraphQL server that comes with sensible defaults and built-in features like subscriptions and file uploads. It is great for rapid prototyping and development, especially for those new to GraphQL.

  • graphql-http:

    Choose GraphQL HTTP if you need a minimalistic and straightforward solution for serving GraphQL over HTTP. It is suitable for simple use cases or when you want to quickly set up a GraphQL endpoint without additional features or dependencies.

  • express-graphql:

    Choose Express-GraphQL if you are already using Express.js and want a lightweight solution to add GraphQL capabilities to your existing application. It is ideal for developers looking for simplicity and direct integration with Express middleware.

  • apollo-server:

    Choose Apollo Server if you need a comprehensive and feature-rich solution that supports advanced features like caching, subscriptions, and integration with Apollo Client. It is well-suited for building production-ready GraphQL APIs with a focus on performance and developer experience.

README for graphql-yoga

GraphQL Yoga

Fully-featured GraphQL Server with focus on easy setup, performance & great developer experience
Go to documenation

npm bundlephobia minified size bundlephobia minified+zipped size bundlephobia treeshaking license

Quick start

Install

pnpm add graphql-yoga graphql

Start

Make a schema, create Yoga and start a Node server:

import { createServer } from 'node:http'
import { createSchema, createYoga } from 'graphql-yoga'

const yoga = createYoga({
  schema: createSchema({
    typeDefs: /* GraphQL */ `
      type Query {
        hello: String
      }
    `,
    resolvers: {
      Query: {
        hello: () => 'Hello from Yoga!'
      }
    }
  })
})

const server = createServer(yoga)

server.listen(4000, () => {
  console.info('Server is running on http://localhost:4000/graphql')
})

Overview

  • Easiest way to run a GraphQL server: Sensible defaults & includes everything you need with minimal setup (we also export a platform/env-agnostic handler so you can build your own wrappers easily).
  • Includes Subscriptions: Built-in support for GraphQL subscriptions using Server-Sent Events.
  • Compatible: Works with all GraphQL clients (Apollo, Relay, Urql...) and fits seamless in your GraphQL workflow.
  • WHATWG Fetch API: the core package depends on WHATWG Fetch API so it can run and deploy on any environment (Serverless, Workers, Deno, Node).
  • Easily Extendable: New GraphQL-Yoga support all envelop plugins.

Features

Documentation

Our documentation website will help you get started.

Examples

We've made sure developers can quickly start with GraphQL Yoga by providing a comprehensive set of examples. See all of them in the examples/ folder.

Comparison

Read more about how GraphQL Yoga compares to other servers in the ecosystem here.

Contributing

If this is your first time contributing to this project, please do read our Contributor Workflow Guide before you get started off.

For this project in particular, to get started on stage/2-failing-test:

  1. Install Node.js
  2. Run in your terminal: npm i -g pnpm@8 && pnpm install && pnpm build
  3. Add tests to packages/graphql-yoga/__tests__ using Jest APIs
  4. Run the tests with pnpm test

Feel free to open issues and pull requests. We're always welcome support from the community.

Code of Conduct

Help us keep Yoga open and inclusive. Please read and follow our Code of Conduct as adopted from Contributor Covenant.

License

MIT