Apollo Client GraphQL Patterns

Quick Guide: Use Apollo Client for GraphQL APIs. Provides automatic normalized caching, optimistic updates, and real-time subscriptions. Always use GraphQL Codegen for type safety. Configure keyFields on every entity type for proper cache normalization. Use errorPolicy: "all" for graceful degradation. v3.9+ adds Suspense hooks; v4.0 moves React imports to @apollo/client/react and adds dataState for type-safe query state.

---

<critical_requirements>

CRITICAL: Before Using This Skill

(You MUST use GraphQL Codegen for type generation - NEVER write manual TypeScript types for GraphQL)

(You MUST include __typename and id in all optimistic responses for cache normalization)

(You MUST configure type policies with appropriate keyFields for every entity type)

(You MUST use named constants for ALL timeout, retry, and polling values - NO magic numbers)

</critical_requirements>

---

Auto-detection: Apollo Client, useQuery, useMutation, useSubscription, useSuspenseQuery, useLoadableQuery, useBackgroundQuery, useFragment, ApolloClient, InMemoryCache, gql, GraphQL, optimistic updates, cache policies, createQueryPreloader

When to use:

• Fetching data from GraphQL APIs
• Real-time updates with GraphQL subscriptions
• Complex cache management with normalized data
• Optimistic UI updates for mutations
• Applications already using a GraphQL server

When NOT to use:

• REST APIs (use your data fetching solution instead)
• Simple APIs without caching needs (consider fetch directly)
• When GraphQL Codegen cannot be integrated

Key patterns covered:

• Client setup with InMemoryCache and type policies
• useQuery / useLazyQuery for queries with loading, error, and data states
• useMutation with optimistic updates, cache.modify, and cache.evict
• useSubscription for real-time WebSocket data
• Pagination with fetchMore and relayStylePagination
• Fragment colocation and useFragment
• Reactive variables for local client state
• Suspense hooks: useSuspenseQuery, useLoadableQuery, useBackgroundQuery, createQueryPreloader

Detailed Resources:

• examples/core.md - Client setup, useQuery, useMutation with cache updates
• examples/pagination.md - Infinite scroll, relay pagination type policies
• examples/fragments.md - Fragment definitions, composition, colocation
• examples/error-handling.md - Component-level and global error handling
• examples/subscriptions.md - WebSocket link setup, useSubscription with cache updates
• examples/testing.md - MockedProvider, component tests, schema-based testing
• examples/suspense.md - v3.9+ Suspense hooks (useSuspenseQuery, useLoadableQuery, useBackgroundQuery)
• reference.md - Decision frameworks, API reference tables, anti-patterns

---

<philosophy>

Philosophy

Apollo Client is a comprehensive GraphQL client that provides intelligent normalized caching, reducing redundant network requests and keeping your UI consistent across components.

Core Principles:

1. Normalized Cache: Data is stored once by type and ID, referenced everywhere - update in one place, UI reflects everywhere
2. Declarative Data Fetching: Components declare what data they need via GraphQL, Apollo handles caching, deduplication, and network
3. Optimistic UI: Show expected results immediately, rollback automatically on server error
4. Type Safety: GraphQL Codegen generates TypeScript types from your schema - never write response types manually

Data Flow:

1. Component requests data via useQuery/useMutation
2. Apollo checks InMemoryCache (normalized by __typename + keyFields)
3. If cache miss or stale, fetches from network
4. Response is normalized and stored in cache
5. All components watching that data re-render automatically

</philosophy>

---

<patterns>

Core Patterns

Pattern 1: Client Setup and Configuration

Configure ApolloClient with InMemoryCache, type policies for cache normalization, and link chain for error handling and auth. Environment variables should use your framework's convention for the GraphQL endpoint.

const cache = new InMemoryCache({
  typePolicies: {
    User: { keyFields: ["id"] },
    Product: { keyFields: ["sku"] }, // Non-default identifier
    CartItem: { keyFields: false }, // Embed in parent, don't normalize
    Query: {
      fields: {
        usersConnection: relayStylePagination(["filter"]),
      },
    },
  },
});

Key decisions: keyFields determines how entities are identified in cache. Use ["id"] (default), custom field like ["sku"], composite ["authorId", "postId"], or false for embedded types.

See examples/core.md Pattern 1 for complete client setup with auth link, error link, and codegen configuration.

---

Pattern 2: useQuery for Data Fetching

Declare data requirements with useQuery. Always handle loading, error, and empty states. Use cache-and-network for stale-while-revalidate behavior.

const { data, loading, error, refetch } = useQuery<GetUsersQuery, GetUsersQueryVariables>(
  GET_USERS,
  {
    variables: { limit: DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE },
    fetchPolicy: "cache-and-network",
    skip: !shouldFetch,
  }
);

if (loading && !data) return <Skeleton />;
if (error) return <Error message={error.message} onRetry={() => refetch()} />;
if (!data?.users?.length) return <EmptyState />;

Why this pattern: loading && !data shows skeleton only on initial load (not background refetch). cache-and-network shows cached data immediately while refreshing from network.

See examples/core.md Pattern 2 for complete useQuery and useLazyQuery examples.

---

Pattern 3: useMutation with Optimistic Updates and Cache Updates

For mutations, decide between three cache update strategies: optimistic response (instant UI), update callback with cache.modify (manual cache update), or refetchQueries (simple but costs a network request).

const [createPost] = useMutation(CREATE_POST, {
  optimisticResponse: {
    createPost: {
      __typename: "Post", // REQUIRED for normalization
      id: `temp-${Date.now()}`, // Temporary ID, replaced by server response
      title,
      content,
    },
  },
  update(cache, { data }) {
    cache.modify({
      fields: {
        posts(existing = [], { toReference }) {
          return [toReference(data.createPost), ...existing];
        },
      },
    });
  },
});

Critical: Always include __typename and id in optimistic responses. For deletes, use cache.evict() + cache.gc(). For simple cases, refetchQueries is fine.

See examples/core.md Pattern 3 for create, update, and delete mutation examples.

---

Pattern 4: Cache Type Policies

Type policies control how Apollo normalizes and retrieves cached data. This is where you configure cache identifiers, computed fields, pagination merging, and local state.

typePolicies: {
  User: {
    keyFields: ["id"],
    fields: {
      fullName: {
        read(_, { readField }) {
          return `${readField("firstName")} ${readField("lastName")}`;
        },
      },
    },
  },
  Query: {
    fields: {
      isLoggedIn: { read() { return isLoggedInVar(); } },
    },
  },
}

Key patterns: keyFields for identification, merge for pagination, read for computed/local fields, keyArgs for separating cache entries per filter.

See examples/core.md Pattern 1 and examples/pagination.md for type policy examples.

---

Pattern 5: Pagination with fetchMore

Two approaches: Relay-style (cursor-based, use relayStylePagination) and offset-based (custom merge/read functions). Both require type policies for merging.

const { data, fetchMore } = useQuery(GET_USERS_CONNECTION, {
  variables: { first: PAGE_SIZE },
});

const loadMore = () =>
  fetchMore({
    variables: { after: data.usersConnection.pageInfo.endCursor },
  });

Key requirement: keyArgs must be set to separate cache entries per filter. Without it, different filtered queries overwrite each other.

See examples/pagination.md for infinite scroll with IntersectionObserver and custom offset pagination type policies.

---

Pattern 6: Fragment Colocation

Colocate data requirements with components using fragments. Parent queries include child fragments, so component changes don't require updating parent queries.

const USER_CARD_FRAGMENT = gql`
  fragment UserCard on User {
    id
    name
    email
    avatar
  }
`;

// Parent query includes child fragment
const GET_USERS = gql`
  query GetUsers {
    users {
      ...UserCard
    }
  }
  ${UserCard.fragments.user}
`;

See examples/fragments.md for fragment composition and examples/core.md Pattern 2 for fragments in queries.

---

Pattern 7: Subscriptions for Real-Time Data

Requires split link configuration: WebSocket for subscriptions, HTTP for queries/mutations. Use graphql-ws (not the deprecated subscriptions-transport-ws).

const splitLink = split(
  ({ query }) => {
    const def = getMainDefinition(query);
    return (
      def.kind === "OperationDefinition" && def.operation === "subscription"
    );
  },
  wsLink,
  httpLink,
);

Important: Only create wsLink on the client side (typeof window !== "undefined"). Update cache in onData callback.

See examples/subscriptions.md for complete WebSocket setup and useSubscription with cache updates.

---

Pattern 8: Local State with Reactive Variables

Use makeVar for simple client-side state that integrates with Apollo's reactivity system. Suitable for theme, auth status, cart items - not complex state.

const cartItemsVar = makeVar<string[]>([]);
const addToCart = (id: string) => cartItemsVar([...cartItemsVar(), id]);

// Component reacts automatically
const cartItems = useReactiveVar(cartItemsVar);

When to use reactive vars vs external state management: Reactive vars for simple Apollo-integrated state. For complex non-GraphQL state, use your client state management solution.

---

Pattern 9: Suspense Hooks (v3.9+)

Four Suspense-enabled hooks for different loading patterns:

Hook	Trigger	Use Case
useSuspenseQuery	Component mount	Standard data loading
useLoadableQuery	User interaction	Hover/click prefetch
useBackgroundQuery	Parent mount	Parent triggers, child reads
createQueryPreloader	Route transition	Router loader integration

Key difference from useQuery: No loading state - component suspends instead. Errors throw to Error Boundary.

See examples/suspense.md for complete examples of all four patterns.

---

Pattern 10: useFragment for Data Masking (v3.8+)

Read fragment data directly from cache with automatic updates. Useful for components that only need a subset of cached entity data.

const { data: user, complete } = useFragment({
  fragment: USER_CARD_FRAGMENT,
  from: userRef,
});
if (!complete) return <Skeleton />;

Why useful: Reads directly from cache without additional queries, complete flag indicates if all fragment fields are available.

</patterns>

---

<version_migration>

Apollo Client v4 Migration Notes

Apollo Client v4 (released September 2025, latest v4.1.6) introduces significant breaking changes. A codemod handles most mechanical changes: npx @apollo/client-codemod-migrate-3-to-4

Breaking Changes Summary

Change	v3	v4
React hook imports	@apollo/client	@apollo/client/react
Client uri option	Allowed directly	Must use explicit HttpLink
name/version	Top-level on client	clientAwareness: { name, version }
notifyOnNetworkStatusChange	Default false	Default true
Error classes	ApolloError	CombinedGraphQLErrors, ServerError, ServerParseError
Observable library	zen-observable	rxjs (peer dependency)
Link creation	createHttpLink()	new HttpLink() (class-based)
from()/concat()/split()	Standalone functions	ApolloLink.from() static methods
connectToDevTools	Client option	Replaced by devtools: { enabled: true }
Local resolvers	resolvers on client	Explicit LocalState class

New: dataState Property (v4)

const { data, dataState } = useQuery(GET_USER);
// dataState: "empty" | "partial" | "streaming" | "complete"
if (dataState === "complete") {
  // TypeScript knows data is fully populated
}

New: Error Type Guards (v4)

import { CombinedGraphQLErrors, ServerError } from "@apollo/client";

if (CombinedGraphQLErrors.is(error)) {
  error.errors.forEach(({ message }) => console.error(message));
}
if (ServerError.is(error)) {
  console.error(`Server responded with ${error.statusCode}`);
}

See Apollo Client 4 Migration Guide for complete details.

</version_migration>

---

<red_flags>

RED FLAGS

High Priority Issues:

• Manual GraphQL type definitions - Use GraphQL Codegen; manual types drift from schema causing runtime errors
• Missing __typename in optimistic responses - Cache normalization fails silently
• Missing id in query responses - Apollo cannot normalize data without identifiers
• Missing keyArgs in paginated type policies - Different filters overwrite each other in cache
• (v4) Importing React hooks from @apollo/client - Must use @apollo/client/react in v4
• (v4) Using uri option directly on ApolloClient - Must use explicit HttpLink in v4

Medium Priority Issues:

• Not using errorPolicy: "all" - Partial data is often better UX than complete failure
• refetchQueries for simple updates - Direct cache updates with cache.modify are more efficient
• network-only for all queries - cache-and-network provides better UX (stale-while-revalidate)
• Not typing useQuery/useMutation generics - Loses type safety benefits
• Missing loading/error state handling - Causes crashes when data is undefined and poor UX

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to run graphql-codegen after schema changes
• Not including all required fields in optimistic responses (every field the mutation returns must be present)
• Using cache.writeQuery when cache.modify is more appropriate (writeQuery replaces entire query result)
• Mixing up update callback (for cache updates) with onCompleted callback (for side effects like navigation)
• Not using notifyOnNetworkStatusChange when showing refetch/fetchMore loading states

Gotchas & Edge Cases:

• fetchMore pagination requires type policy merge functions - without them, new data replaces old
• cache.evict must be followed by cache.gc() to clean up orphaned references
• readField in type policies is safer than direct property access (handles References)
• Optimistic responses are discarded automatically on error - no manual rollback needed
• refetchQueries runs after update callback, not before
• pollInterval: 0 disables polling; omit the option entirely for no polling
• Type policies with keyFields: false embed objects in parent (no separate cache entry)
• Subscriptions require separate WebSocket link with split - queries/mutations stay on HTTP
• useSuspenseQuery has no loading state - it suspends; errors throw to Error Boundary
• queryRef from useLoadableQuery must be passed to useReadQuery inside a Suspense boundary
• createQueryPreloader must be called outside the React tree (e.g., router loaders)
• (v4) notifyOnNetworkStatusChange defaults to true - may cause unexpected re-renders
• (v4) rxjs is a required peer dependency - must install explicitly
• (v4) ApolloError class removed - use CombinedGraphQLErrors.is() and ServerError.is() for type-checking
• (v4) from(), concat(), split() are static methods on ApolloLink, not standalone functions
• (v4) createHttpLink() removed - use new HttpLink() constructor instead
• (v4) useMutation types now enforce required variables at the call site

</red_flags>

---

<critical_reminders>

CRITICAL REMINDERS

(You MUST use GraphQL Codegen for type generation - NEVER write manual TypeScript types for GraphQL)

(You MUST include __typename and id in all optimistic responses for cache normalization)

(You MUST configure type policies with appropriate keyFields for every entity type)

(You MUST use named constants for ALL timeout, retry, and polling values - NO magic numbers)

(For v4: You MUST import React hooks from @apollo/client/react - NOT from @apollo/client)

Failure to follow these rules will cause cache inconsistencies, type drift, and production bugs.

</critical_reminders>