The Ultimate Guide to Exploring GraphQL in 2025

What Is GraphQL (For Beginners)

GraphQL is a modern query language for APIs that lets clients request exactly the data they need — no more, no less. It has become a dominant standard for building flexible, scalable APIs.

Why Developers Love It

• Efficient: Eliminates overfetching and underfetching.

• Flexible: Query exactly the fields you want.

• Powerful: Request deeply nested or related data in a single query.

• Developer-Friendly: Introspect schemas, use tools, and explore faster.

Common Use Cases

• Powering mobile and web frontends

• Delivering content from headless CMSs

• Connecting decoupled frontend/backend systems

• Real-time data delivery with subscriptions

Companies like GitHub, Shopify, and Netflix rely on GraphQL for more scalable, flexible APIs.

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Exploring GraphQL APIs: Tools in 2025

A wide range of modern tools make testing and exploring GraphQL APIs easier than ever. Here's what's relevant today:

✅ Altair GraphQL Client

• Best For: Desktop development and testing

• Features:

  • Multi-tab support

  • Environments and headers

  • Real-time subscriptions

  • Import/export queries

• Where It Shines: Agility CMS integrates Altair directly into its Fetch API tooling.

✅ GraphiQL 2.0

• Best For: Embedded developer tooling

• Maintained By: The GraphQL Foundation

• Features:

  • Modular plugin system

  • Schema explorer

  • Autocomplete and validation

  • Easily embeddable in admin panels

✅ Apollo Sandbox

• Best For: Apollo-based workflows

• Cloud-Based: Requires login but deeply integrated into Apollo tooling

• Features:

  • Visual query building

  • Explorer

  • Shared graphs and saved queries

✅ Postman with GraphQL Support

• Best For: Teams already using Postman

• GraphQL Features:

  • Variable support

  • Query auto-completion

  • Workspace sharing and collections

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How Agility CMS Fits In

Agility CMS offers a GraphQL API that is read-only and built to reflect your content architecture. While traditional GraphQL tools work, Agility streamlines the experience with:

• Built-in Altair UI on Fetch API endpoints

• Schema auto-generation based on your content models

• No setup required — just plug in your API key and start exploring

Want to take it further? Agility's Next.js Starter integrates GraphQL content sourcing directly into your build process.

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Best Practices for GraphQL Exploration

• Use variables: Reuse queries with dynamic input

• Save your queries: Great for testing and team sharing

• Secure your tools: Never expose your keys in public clients

• Optimize your requests: Only fetch what’s needed

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Helpful Resources

To locate GraphQL in your instance of Agility CMS, go to Settings > API Keys. Click the Explore GraphQL button. You can also Explore GraphQL directly.

You can also view our GraphQL documentation for additional information, examples, tips, and more.

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⚠️ A Note About GraphQL Playground

GraphQL Playground, once a popular query tool, is no longer maintained (last update was 2019) and has known XSS vulnerabilities.

While Agility CMS still offers a read-only, embedded version of Playground, new development should use Altair, GraphiQL, or Apollo Sandbox for safer and more modern developer experiences.

Avoid installing Playground for local use — it’s considered a legacy tool and no longer secure.

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Conclusion

GraphQL is more powerful than ever, and the tooling ecosystem has evolved significantly. Whether you're working locally, in the cloud, or inside a CMS like Agility, modern GraphQL tools provide a secure and rich environment for building, testing, and exploring queries.

Altair, GraphiQL 2.0, and Apollo Sandbox are the current gold standards. Use the right one for your workflow — and leave GraphQL Playground in the past.