Creating REST or GraphQL search endpointsfor Drupal 8 , 9 , 10 , and 11

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8.x , 9.x , 10.x , 11.x

For a headless Drupal architecture, creating flexible and efficient APIs is essential to deliver dynamic search functionality to front-end applications. This lesson will guide you through setting up both RESTful and GraphQL search endpoints to serve diverse use cases in your web applications.

Understanding REST and GraphQL in Drupal

REST and GraphQL represent two different strategies for API development:

  • REST: A conventional approach that uses HTTP requests to access resources. It’s simple and widely used but may require multiple requests to gather related data.
  • GraphQL: A modern API query language allowing clients to request precisely the data they need, representing more flexibility but requiring a GraphQL server setup.

Setting Up RESTful Search Endpoints

Step 1: Enable REST and Search API Modules

  1. Make sure RESTful Web Services and JSON:API modules are installed: 
    drush en rest -y
drush en jsonapi -y

Step 2: Configure a REST Export in Views

  1. Create or edit a View representing your search index.
  2. In the Add Display menu, select REST export to expose the search results through an endpoint.
  3. Configure the endpoint path, such as /api/search.
  4. Set the response format (JSON is preferred) and permissions to control access.

Step 3: Test the REST Endpoint

Ensure your endpoint is accessible and serving data correctly by attempting a sample GET request using a tool like Postman:


    GET http://example-drupal-site.com/api/search?query=example

Creating GraphQL Search Endpoints

Step 1: Install and Enable GraphQL Module

  1. Add the GraphQL module using Composer: 
    composer require drupal/graphql
  2. Enable the module: 
    drush en graphql -y

Step 2: Define a GraphQL Query

Utilize the GraphQL interface in Drupal to write custom queries. These queries specify exactly what data you need for your searches.


    query {
      nodeQuery(filter: {conditions: [{field: "title", value: "example", operator: "CONTAINS"}]}) {
        entities {
          ...on NodeArticle {
            title
            body {
              value
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }

Step 3: Implement API Access Control

Ensure that only authenticated users can access certain parts of your API to protect sensitive data. Define permissions in your GraphQL configurations to limit query capabilities as needed.

Pro-Tip: Choosing Between REST and GraphQL

Choose REST when your search requirements are straightforward and when integrating with systems that favor RESTful services. Opt for GraphQL in scenarios needing precise data fetching and minimizing multiple round trips.

Conclusion and What's Next?

Creating REST and GraphQL search endpoints in Drupal provides flexible data query solutions vital for headless applications. These methods support the dynamic interaction of frontend applications, enhancing user engagement and experience.

In our next lesson, we will explore Decoupling with JavaScript Frameworks, where we’ll integrate these API strategies into popular frontend frameworks like React, Vue.js, and Angular. Stay tuned for this vital expansion of your skills!