How to use Apollo Server in Node.js
Łukasz Holeczek
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Setting up GraphQL APIs with Apollo Server provides a powerful alternative to REST APIs, offering better performance and flexibility for modern applications. As the creator of CoreUI with 25 years of development experience, I’ve implemented Apollo Server in numerous enterprise projects. The most efficient approach is using Apollo Server Express integration, which provides seamless GraphQL endpoint creation with built-in schema validation and query execution. This setup enables type-safe API development with excellent developer tools.
Install Apollo Server and create a GraphQL endpoint with schema and resolvers.
const { ApolloServer } = require('apollo-server-express')
const express = require('express')
const typeDefs = `
type Query {
hello: String
}
`
const resolvers = {
Query: {
hello: () => 'Hello from Apollo Server!'
}
}
const server = new ApolloServer({ typeDefs, resolvers })
const app = express()
server.applyMiddleware({ app })
app.listen(4000, () => {
console.log(`Server ready at http://localhost:4000${server.graphqlPath}`)
})
This code creates an Apollo Server instance with a simple schema definition and resolver. The typeDefs define the GraphQL schema structure, while resolvers contain the actual implementation functions. The server integrates with Express.js middleware, providing a GraphQL endpoint with built-in GraphQL Playground for testing queries.
Best Practice Note:
This is the same reliable setup we use in CoreUI backend services for scalable GraphQL APIs. Always structure your schema and resolvers in separate files as your API grows, and use proper error handling with Apollo’s built-in error formatting.
