Response caching strategies in GraphQL - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is response caching in GraphQL?

Response caching stores the results of GraphQL queries so that repeated requests can be served faster without re-executing the query.

beginner

Name a common strategy for caching GraphQL responses.

One common strategy is query-based caching, where the exact query string and variables are used as a key to store and retrieve cached results.

intermediate

What is the difference between client-side and server-side caching in GraphQL?

Client-side caching stores responses in the user's browser or app to reduce network calls. Server-side caching stores responses on the server to reduce database or resolver load.

intermediate

How does cache invalidation affect response caching?

Cache invalidation removes or updates cached data when the underlying data changes, ensuring clients get fresh and accurate responses.

beginner

What role do Cache-Control headers play in GraphQL response caching?

Cache-Control headers tell clients and proxies how long to keep a cached response and whether it can be reused, helping control caching behavior.

Which of the following is a key used in query-based caching for GraphQL?

A The exact query string and variables

B Only the query name

C The server IP address

D The client's user agent

Query-based caching uses the full query string and variables as the key to ensure the cached response matches the request exactly.

What does cache invalidation ensure in response caching?

A That cached data is always kept forever

B That cached data is updated or removed when underlying data changes

C That cache size is unlimited

D That only client-side caching is used

Cache invalidation updates or removes cached data to keep responses accurate when the original data changes.

Where is client-side caching stored?

A In the database

B On the server

C In the user's browser or app

D In the network router

Client-side caching stores data locally in the user's browser or app to reduce network requests.

What does the Cache-Control header NOT control?

A The exact data format of the response

B Whether a response can be reused

C How long to keep a cached response

D Caching behavior for clients and proxies

Cache-Control headers control caching behavior but do not specify the data format of the response.

Which caching strategy reduces load on the database or resolvers?

A Client-side caching

B DNS caching

C Browser caching

D Server-side caching

Server-side caching stores responses on the server to reduce the need to run expensive database queries or resolver functions.

Explain how response caching improves performance in GraphQL APIs.

Think about what happens when the same query is asked multiple times.

Describe the difference between client-side and server-side caching in GraphQL.

Consider where the cached data lives and what it helps reduce.