CODEWITHSUNDEEP
graphql
ed'
ed'

Reputation: 1905

What is the point of GraphQL's ID Scalar?

https://graphql.org/learn/schema/#scalar-types

I have read the description

ID: The ID scalar type represents a unique identifier, often used to refetch an object or as the key for a cache. The ID type is serialized in the same way as a String; however, defining it as an ID signifies that it is not intended to be human‐readable.

But in practice, what actually changes if I use ID instead of String ?

Upvotes: 10

Views: 6568

Answers (1)

forJ
forJ

Reputation: 4627

Nothing changes as it is mentioned in the description. ID is serialized exactly the same as String type; therefore, if you were to replace ID with String, computer would see no difference in it.

However, what is important to you is that YOU as a programmer know for sure that it's a unique identifier which will be useful when you paginate records, modify apollo cache, iteratively create jsx components.

So in practice, it has a very practical implication - it conveys important meaning for the programmer that the field is unique for the type.

Upvotes: 11

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