Using GraphQL Subscriptions in Rails: Real-Time Updates

In modern web development, real-time updates have become a standard feature. The ability to instantly update data without the need to refresh the entire page provides users with an enhanced and dynamic user experience. One of the most popular frameworks for building web applications is Ruby on Rails. In this article, we will explore how to integrate GraphQL subscriptions into a Rails application to achieve real-time updates.

What is GraphQL?

GraphQL is an open-source query language and runtime used to fetch and manage data from APIs. It provides a more efficient alternative to traditional REST APIs by allowing clients to request specific data they need, avoiding over-fetching or under-fetching of data. GraphQL provides a clean and flexible syntax for defining queries, mutations, and subscriptions.

What are GraphQL Subscriptions?

Unlike regular GraphQL queries and mutations which are used for retrieving and modifying data, GraphQL subscriptions enable real-time communication between the client and the server. With subscriptions, the server can push data updates to the client whenever a specific event occurs.

In a Rails application, using GraphQL subscriptions allows us to implement real-time features such as chat applications, real-time analytics dashboards, or collaborative editing interfaces.

Setting up GraphQL Subscriptions in Rails

To use GraphQL subscriptions in Rails, we can utilize the graphql-ruby gem, which provides excellent support for GraphQL subscriptions. Here are the general steps to follow:

1. Install the graphql-ruby gem by adding it to your Gemfile and running bundle install.
2. Create a subscription type in your GraphQL schema file. Define the subscription fields and their respective resolvers. These resolvers are responsible for pushing the updates to the subscribed clients.
3. Implement WebSocket support in your Rails application. This can be done using Action Cable, Rails’ built-in WebSocket framework. You’ll need to configure Action Cable and set up a Channel to handle the GraphQL subscriptions.
4. Create a subscription resolver class that inherits from GraphQL::Subscriptions::Subscription in your Rails application. This class handles the subscriptions’ lifecycle, including subscribing, unsubscribing, and pushing updates to the clients.
5. Lastly, update your GraphQL schema file to include the new subscription type and any additional fields required.

Conclusion

Integrating GraphQL subscriptions into a Rails application enables real-time updates and enhances user experience. With the help of the graphql-ruby gem and Action Cable, we can easily implement GraphQL subscriptions in our Rails projects.

Real-time updates are becoming more prevalent in web development, and by leveraging GraphQL subscriptions, Rails developers can provide their users with dynamic and interactive applications.

For more information on implementing GraphQL subscriptions in Rails, you can refer to the official graphql-ruby documentation.

      

        $ gem 'graphql-ruby', '~> 1.0'

        $ bundle install

      

    

Related posts:

“Using GraphQL in a Microservices Architecture with Rails” “Building a GraphQL API with Rails and Apollo” “Using GraphQL with Relay in Rails: Modern API Development” “Building a Podcast Platform with Rails: Episodes and Subscriptions”