Introduction
Modern mobile apps often need flexible data fetching, real-time updates, and predictable APIs. Traditional REST endpoints can become limiting as apps grow and screens require different data shapes. GraphQL in React Native, combined with Apollo Client, provides a powerful way to manage data in mobile applications. In this guide, you will learn how GraphQL works in React Native, how Apollo Client manages queries and caching, and how to build scalable and maintainable mobile data layers. Whether you are building a social feed, e-commerce app, or real-time dashboard, understanding Apollo Client integration will significantly improve your app architecture.
Why Use GraphQL in React Native
GraphQL fundamentally changes how mobile apps request data. Instead of calling multiple REST endpoints and stitching responses together, the app requests exactly what it needs in a single query. This approach brings several benefits to mobile development.
First, you fetch only required fields, which reduces payload size significantly. On mobile networks where bandwidth and latency matter, smaller responses translate directly to faster load times. Additionally, GraphQL eliminates over-fetching (receiving more data than needed) and under-fetching (making multiple requests for related data).
Furthermore, GraphQL provides strongly typed schemas that serve as contracts between frontend and backend teams. This means you can validate queries at build time and catch errors before they reach production. Because mobile performance matters for user retention, GraphQL fits particularly well with React Native apps that need to work reliably across varying network conditions.
What Is Apollo Client?
Apollo Client is a comprehensive GraphQL state management library that handles much more than simple HTTP requests. It manages network requests, implements intelligent caching, and automatically updates your UI when data changes.
The library provides declarative data fetching through React hooks, which means you describe what data you need rather than how to fetch it. Apollo maintains a normalized in-memory cache that prevents duplicate data storage and ensures consistency across your app. As a result, Apollo Client often replaces manual state management solutions like Redux for server-side data, reducing boilerplate code significantly.
The Apollo ecosystem also includes developer tools for debugging queries, performance monitoring, and cache inspection. These tools prove invaluable when tracking down data inconsistencies in complex mobile applications.
How GraphQL Works in a Mobile App
Before writing code, understanding the data flow helps clarify Apollo’s role in your architecture.
When a React Native component needs data, it declares a GraphQL query describing the required fields. Apollo Client intercepts this request and first checks its local cache. If the data exists and is fresh, Apollo returns it immediately without a network request. Otherwise, Apollo sends the query to your GraphQL server.
The server resolves the query by fetching data from databases, microservices, or other data sources. It returns a JSON response matching the exact shape of your query. Apollo then normalizes this response into its cache using unique identifiers and updates all components subscribed to that data. This flow keeps data consistent and predictable across your entire application.
Installing Apollo Client in React Native
Start by installing the required packages in your React Native project.
npm install @apollo/client graphqlThese packages provide the core Apollo Client library and GraphQL parsing utilities. For projects using TypeScript, the Apollo Client package includes type definitions out of the box.
If you need real-time subscriptions, install the WebSocket transport as well:
npm install subscriptions-transport-wsCreating the Apollo Client Instance
Next, configure the Apollo Client instance with your GraphQL endpoint and cache settings.
import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache, HttpLink } from '@apollo/client';
const httpLink = new HttpLink({
uri: 'https://your-graphql-endpoint.com/graphql',
});
const client = new ApolloClient({
link: httpLink,
cache: new InMemoryCache({
typePolicies: {
Query: {
fields: {
users: {
merge(existing = [], incoming) {
return [...existing, ...incoming];
},
},
},
},
},
}),
});The InMemoryCache handles data normalization and storage. The typePolicies configuration lets you customize how Apollo merges cached data, which becomes important for paginated lists.
Providing Apollo to the App
Wrap your root component with ApolloProvider to make the client available throughout your component tree.
import React from 'react';
import { ApolloProvider } from '@apollo/client';
import { NavigationContainer } from '@react-navigation/native';
import AppNavigator from './navigation/AppNavigator';
const App = () => {
return (
<ApolloProvider client={client}>
<NavigationContainer>
<AppNavigator />
</NavigationContainer>
</ApolloProvider>
);
};
export default App;From this point, any component can access GraphQL data using Apollo’s hooks.
Executing Queries with useQuery
The useQuery hook fetches data and keeps the UI synchronized with the cache.
import React from 'react';
import { View, Text, FlatList, ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native';
import { gql, useQuery } from '@apollo/client';
const GET_USERS = gql`
query GetUsers($limit: Int, $offset: Int) {
users(limit: $limit, offset: $offset) {
id
name
email
avatar
}
}
`;
const UserList = () => {
const { data, loading, error, fetchMore } = useQuery(GET_USERS, {
variables: { limit: 20, offset: 0 },
});
if (loading) return <ActivityIndicator size="large" />;
if (error) return <Text>Error: {error.message}</Text>;
return (
<FlatList
data={data.users}
keyExtractor={(item) => item.id}
renderItem={({ item }) => (
<View>
<Text>{item.name}</Text>
<Text>{item.email}</Text>
</View>
)}
onEndReached={() => {
fetchMore({
variables: { offset: data.users.length },
});
}}
/>
);
};Apollo automatically tracks loading and error states, eliminating boilerplate state management code. The fetchMore function enables pagination by fetching additional data and merging it with existing cache entries.
Performing Mutations
Mutations modify backend data and update the local cache accordingly.
import { gql, useMutation } from '@apollo/client';
const ADD_USER = gql`
mutation AddUser($name: String!, $email: String!) {
addUser(name: $name, email: $email) {
id
name
email
}
}
`;
const CreateUserForm = () => {
const [addUser, { loading, error }] = useMutation(ADD_USER, {
update(cache, { data: { addUser } }) {
cache.modify({
fields: {
users(existingUsers = []) {
const newUserRef = cache.writeFragment({
data: addUser,
fragment: gql`
fragment NewUser on User {
id
name
email
}
`,
});
return [...existingUsers, newUserRef];
},
},
});
},
});
const handleSubmit = async (name, email) => {
try {
await addUser({ variables: { name, email } });
} catch (err) {
console.error('Failed to add user:', err);
}
};
return (
// Form component implementation
);
};The update function manually updates the cache after a mutation succeeds. This approach provides immediate UI feedback without requiring a full refetch from the server.
Using Subscriptions for Real-Time Data
Subscriptions deliver real-time updates over WebSockets, making them ideal for chat applications, live dashboards, and notification systems.
import { split } from '@apollo/client';
import { WebSocketLink } from '@apollo/client/link/ws';
import { getMainDefinition } from '@apollo/client/utilities';
const wsLink = new WebSocketLink({
uri: 'wss://your-graphql-endpoint.com/graphql',
options: {
reconnect: true,
connectionParams: {
authToken: userToken,
},
},
});
// Split links based on operation type
const splitLink = split(
({ query }) => {
const definition = getMainDefinition(query);
return (
definition.kind === 'OperationDefinition' &&
definition.operation === 'subscription'
);
},
wsLink,
httpLink
);
const client = new ApolloClient({
link: splitLink,
cache: new InMemoryCache(),
});The split function routes subscription operations through WebSockets while queries and mutations use HTTP. This configuration enables real-time features without sacrificing the reliability of standard HTTP requests.
import { gql, useSubscription } from '@apollo/client';
const MESSAGE_SUBSCRIPTION = gql`
subscription OnNewMessage($channelId: ID!) {
messageAdded(channelId: $channelId) {
id
content
sender {
name
}
createdAt
}
}
`;
const ChatRoom = ({ channelId }) => {
const { data } = useSubscription(MESSAGE_SUBSCRIPTION, {
variables: { channelId },
});
// Handle new messages as they arrive
};Authentication with Apollo Client
Most GraphQL APIs require authentication. Apollo provides several ways to attach authentication headers to requests.
import { setContext } from '@apollo/client/link/context';
import AsyncStorage from '@react-native-async-storage/async-storage';
const authLink = setContext(async (_, { headers }) => {
const token = await AsyncStorage.getItem('authToken');
return {
headers: {
...headers,
authorization: token ? `Bearer ${token}` : '',
},
};
});
const client = new ApolloClient({
link: authLink.concat(httpLink),
cache: new InMemoryCache(),
});The setContext link intercepts every request and attaches the authentication token. Using AsyncStorage ensures tokens persist across app restarts.
Offline Support and Caching Strategies
Apollo’s caching capabilities help reduce network usage and enable offline access to previously fetched data.
import { persistCache } from 'apollo3-cache-persist';
import AsyncStorage from '@react-native-async-storage/async-storage';
const cache = new InMemoryCache();
await persistCache({
cache,
storage: AsyncStorage,
});
const client = new ApolloClient({
link: httpLink,
cache,
defaultOptions: {
watchQuery: {
fetchPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
},
},
});The apollo3-cache-persist library automatically saves the cache to AsyncStorage and restores it when the app launches. The cache-and-network fetch policy returns cached data immediately while fetching fresh data in the background.
Real-World Production Scenario
Consider a mid-sized e-commerce React Native app with 25-30 screens handling product listings, user profiles, shopping cart, and order history. Migrating from REST to GraphQL with Apollo Client typically involves several phases.
Initially, teams often run GraphQL alongside existing REST endpoints. This approach lets you migrate screen by screen rather than rewriting everything at once. Product listing screens benefit immediately from GraphQL’s ability to request exactly the fields needed for each view, whether that’s a compact grid view or detailed list view.
The most significant wins come from eliminating waterfall requests. In REST architectures, loading a product detail page might require fetching the product, then reviews, then related products in sequence. With GraphQL, a single query retrieves everything in one round trip. On mobile networks with 100-300ms latency per request, this consolidation noticeably improves perceived performance.
However, the migration surfaces hidden complexity. Teams commonly discover that different screens were making slightly different assumptions about data shapes. GraphQL’s strict typing forces you to reconcile these differences upfront, which improves long-term maintainability but requires initial investment.
When to Use Apollo Client
Apollo Client works best when your app has complex data requirements across multiple screens. It excels with real-time features like chat, notifications, or live updates. The normalized cache proves valuable when the same entities appear in different parts of your app.
Choose Apollo Client when you need strong typing and predictable data flow. If your team values developer experience and debugging tools, Apollo’s ecosystem provides significant advantages over manual fetch implementations.
When NOT to Use Apollo Client
For simple apps with only a few API calls, Apollo adds unnecessary complexity. If your backend doesn’t support GraphQL and you cannot add a GraphQL layer, sticking with REST makes more sense.
Additionally, apps with extremely simple data requirements may find Apollo’s caching overhead unjustified. In these cases, a lightweight fetch wrapper or TanStack Query provides similar benefits with less configuration.
Common Mistakes
The most frequent mistake involves over-fetching by requesting fields that components don’t actually use. Review your queries periodically and remove unused fields.
Another common issue is ignoring cache behavior. Without understanding how Apollo normalizes data, you might see stale data or unexpected updates. Always verify your cache configuration when data seems inconsistent.
Mixing GraphQL server state with client-only state in Apollo’s cache creates confusion. Keep UI state separate using React’s built-in state management or a dedicated client state library.
Conclusion
Using GraphQL in React Native with Apollo Client creates a powerful and scalable data layer for modern mobile apps. By combining precise queries, built-in caching, and real-time subscriptions, Apollo helps keep UIs fast and consistent. Start by migrating one feature to evaluate how Apollo fits your architecture, then expand gradually based on the results.
If you are working with GraphQL across platforms, read “GraphQL in Flutter Using Hasura and Apollo.” For advanced mobile animations, see “Animations in React Native Using Reanimated 3.” You can also explore the Apollo Client documentation and the GraphQL official documentation. With the right setup, Apollo Client becomes a strong foundation for React Native data management.
