Why Format GraphQL Queries?
Who Should Use a GraphQL Formatter?
Front-end and API developers who work with GraphQL—whether using Apollo Client, Relay, or REST alternatives—benefit from a formatter. Use it when you pull minified queries from network logs, share snippets in docs, or review code. Backend teams can format schema definitions and persisted queries for consistency.
Minified or single-line GraphQL from logs, API clients, or copy-paste is hard to read and review. A dedicated GraphQL formatter adds consistent indentation and line breaks so you can debug faster, catch syntax errors before hitting your API, and keep queries readable in version control.
Common GraphQL Formatting Mistakes
- Missing or mismatched curly braces or parentheses
- Inconsistent spacing around colons and arguments
- Unclosed or misquoted strings in variables
- Mixed indentation (tabs vs spaces) across the document
- Long single-line queries that are hard to diff in code review
Benefits for API Development
Formatted GraphQL makes it easier to compare query versions, document API usage, and onboard developers. Clear structure helps you spot over-fetching, missing fields, or wrong variable types before sending requests. Use this formatter to beautify queries from GraphQL Playground, Postman, or your app logs—all client-side, with no data sent to any server.
GraphQL Formatter vs Generic Code Formatters
Generic formatters (e.g. for JSON or JavaScript) do not understand GraphQL syntax. A GraphQL-specific formatter uses the official GraphQL grammar, so you get correct indentation for nested selections, variables, and fragments, plus validation that catches syntax errors. This tool is built for GraphQL only and stays lightweight in the browser.
Example: Before and After Formatting
Before (minified):
query GetUser($id:ID!){user(id:$id){id name email}}After (formatted):
query GetUser($id: ID!) {
user(id: $id) {
id
name
email
}
}Example Formatted Mutation
mutation UpdateProfile($input: UpdateProfileInput!) {
updateProfile(input: $input) {
id
name
email
}
}