Implementing Client-Side Caching with Apollo Client
1. Using the Apollo Client Cache
- Apollo Client automatically manages caching by storing fetched data in its cache.
- Developers can customize caching behavior by configuring cache policies and strategies.
const client = new ApolloClient({
uri: 'https://example.com/graphql',
cache: new InMemoryCache(),
});
Explanation: This code creates a new instance of ApolloClient, which is the main interface for interacting with GraphQL APIs using Apollo Client. The uri specifies the GraphQL endpoint to which queries will be sent and the cache specifies that Apollo Client should use an in-memory cache to store fetched data allowing for efficient data management and retrieval.
2. Using the Bypassing Cache
- In certain scenarios, developers may need to bypass the cache and fetch fresh data from the server.
- Apollo Client provides options to control cache usage on a per-query basis.
const { loading, error, data } = useQuery(GET_USERS, {
fetchPolicy: 'no-cache', // OR network-only
});
Explanation: This code uses the useQuery hook from Apollo Client to fetch data using a GraphQL query defined by GET_USERS. The fetchPolicy option is set to ‘no–cache‘ or ‘network–only‘, which bypasses the cache and fetches the data from the server, ensuring that the data is always up-to-date.
3. Using the Persisting Cache
- Apollo Client supports cache persistence, allowing cached data to be persisted across sessions or page reloads.
- This feature ensures data continuity and enhances user experience.
const cache = new InMemoryCache();
persistCache({
cache,
storage: window.localStorage,
});
Explanation: This code creates a new instance of the Apollo Client’s InMemoryCache and then uses the persistCache function to persist the cache data to the browser’s localStorage. This ensures that the cache data is retained even after the user refreshes the page or closes and reopens the browser and providing a simple user experience.
4. Using the Resetting Cache
- Developers can reset the Apollo Client cache to clear stale or outdated data, ensuring data integrity and consistency with the server.
const { client } = useApolloClient();
function handleResetCache() {
client.resetStore();
}
Explanation: This code uses the useApolloClient hook to access the Apollo Client instance, and then defines a function handleResetCache that calls the resetStore method on the client instance. This method resets the Apollo Client’s cache and clearing any cached data and ensuring that future queries fetch fresh data from the server.
Caching in GraphQL
Caching in GraphQL involves storing and reusing fetched data to reduce network requests and improve performance. Client-side caching, supported by libraries like Apollo Client allows storing queried data locally and enabling quick retrieval without server requests. Apollo Client manages caching by checking the cache for existing data before fetching from the server, optimizing data retrieval.
In this article, we’ll learn about Caching in GraphQL in detail with the understanding of Client-Side Caching, its benefits and Implementation and so on.