How to send a GraphQL Query from Node.js to Prisma - graphql

Question

I just learnt how to create a GraphlQL server using graphql-yoga and prisma-binding based on the HowToGraphQL tutorial.
Question: The only way to query the database so far was to use the Prisma Playground webpage that was started by running the command graphql playground.
Is it possible to perform the same query from a Node.js script? I came across the Apollo client but it seems to be meant for use from a frontend layer like React, Vue, Angular.

Answer 1

This is absolutely possible, in the end the Prisma API is just plain HTTP where you put the query into the body of a POST request.
You therefore can use fetch or prisma-binding inside your Node script as well.
Check out this tutorial to learn more: https://www.prisma.io/docs/tutorials/access-prisma-from-scripts/access-prisma-from-a-node-script-using-prisma-bindings-vbadiyyee9
This might also be helpful as it explains how to use fetch to query the API: https://github.com/nikolasburk/gse/tree/master/3-Use-Prisma-GraphQL-API-from-Code
This is what using fetch looks like:
const fetch = require('node-fetch')
const endpoint = '__YOUR_PRISMA_ENDPOINT__'
const query = `
query {
users {
id
name
posts {
id
title
}
}
}
`
fetch(endpoint, {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({ query: query })
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(result => console.log(JSON.stringify(result)))
If you want to use a lightweight wrapper around fetch that saves you from writing boilerplate, be sure to check out graphql-request.
And here is how you use Prisma bindings:
const { Prisma } = require('prisma-binding')
const prisma = new Prisma({
typeDefs: 'prisma.graphql',
endpoint: '__YOUR_PRISMA_ENDPOINT__'
})
// send `users` query
prisma.query.users({}, `{ id name }`)
.then(users => console.log(users))
.then(() =>
// send `createUser` mutation
prisma.mutation.createUser(
{
data: { name: `Sarah` },
},
`{ id name }`,
),
)
.then(newUser => {
console.log(newUser)
return newUser
})
.then(newUser =>
// send `user` query
prisma.query.user(
{
where: { id: newUser.id },
},
`{ name }`,
),
)
.then(user => console.log(user))

Answer 2

Since you are using Prisma and want to query it from a NodeJS script, I think you might have overlooked the option to generate a client from your Prisma definitions.
It takes care of handling create/read/update/delete/upsert methods depending on your datamodel.
Also, you can worry less about keeping your models and queries/mutations in sync since it is generated using the Prisma CLI (prisma generate).
I find it to save a lot of coding time compared to using raw GrahQL queries, which I save for more complicated queries/mutations.
Check their official documentation for more details.
Also, note that using the Prisma client is the recommended way of using Prisma in prisma-binding resository, unless:
Unless you explicitly want to use schema delegation
which I can't tell you much about.
I did not know of the prisma-binding package untill I read your question.
EDIT:
Here is another link that puts them both in perspective