GraphQL API Implementation Checklist

Define schema boundaries and domains

Split schema by feature; document types, inputs, and relationships.

Design queries and mutations clearly

Name operations by intent and keep payloads focused.

Plan subscriptions and real-time needs

Specify events, payloads, auth, and scaling expectations.

Add input validation and custom scalars

Use scalars for Date/Email and validate inputs early.

Generate typed schemas and resolvers with codegen

Run GraphQL codegen to produce TypeScript types and avoid runtime mismatches.

Populate request context with authentication

Attach user, tokens, and services to context for resolver access.

Enforce field and operation authorization

Check permissions in resolvers or with schema directives.

Scan schema for N+1 query hotspots

Review nested lists and resolver patterns that may cause extra DB calls.

Add DataLoader batching and caching to resolvers

Batch DB calls per request to eliminate N+1 and cache where appropriate.

Set query depth limiting

Apply a max depth to reject deeply nested queries that can overload services.

Enforce query complexity/cost analysis

Calculate cost per field and reject or throttle high-cost queries.

Disable GraphQL playground and introspection in production

Serve playground only in dev/staging and restrict introspection to reduce attack surface.

Enable persisted queries and whitelisting

Use persisted queries to improve caching and limit arbitrary query execution.

Implement logging, tracing, and monitoring

Capture resolver timings, errors, and metrics to detect regressions quickly.

Write unit and integration tests for resolvers and schema

Include auth, edge cases, and performance tests to prevent regressions.