Subgraphs
The Graph is a decentralized indexing protocol that organizes blockchain data and makes it easily accessible via GraphQL.
Overview
The Graph is a decentralized indexing protocol designed to organize blockchain data and make it easily accessible through GraphQL queries. It enables developers to build fast, reliable, and scalable decentralized applications (dapps) without the need to run their own data servers or build complex indexing infrastructure. By indexing blockchain data into open APIs called subgraphs, The Graph allows applications to query data efficiently and with low latency.
The protocol is powered by a decentralized network of participants including Indexers, Curators, Delegators, and Subgraph Developers. This distributed architecture ensures high availability and resilience, with uptime exceeding 99.99%. The Graph supports a wide range of blockchain networks and hosts tens of thousands of subgraphs covering DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, gaming, and analytics. Developers can either use existing subgraphs or create their own to organize smart contract data.
Getting started with The Graph involves three main steps: discovering or creating a subgraph to define the data schema, querying the subgraph using GraphQL, and serving the queried data in your application frontend. This workflow simplifies access to complex blockchain data and accelerates dapp development. The Graph also offers advanced products like Substreams for streaming data and a Token API for token balances and pricing data. Comprehensive documentation, a rich ecosystem, and active community support make onboarding straightforward for developers of all skill levels.
The Problem
Accessing and organizing blockchain data is complex and resource-intensive, requiring developers to run costly infrastructure or parse raw data manually. This creates barriers to building responsive and scalable decentralized applications.
The Solution
Key Features
Subgraphs
Open APIs that define how blockchain data is indexed and queried.
Substreams
Streaming data pipelines for real-time blockchain data processing.
Token API
Provides token balance and price data in a simple API format.
Key Strengths
How Developers Use Subgraphs
DeFi analytics dashboards
Developers use The Graph to index and query complex DeFi protocol data for real-time analytics and portfolio tracking.
NFT marketplaces
NFT platform developers leverage subgraphs to efficiently retrieve metadata, ownership, and transaction history.
DAO tooling
DAO developers build governance and voting interfaces by querying on-chain proposals and member data via The Graph.
Works Well WithArbitrum OneArbitrum NovaAstarAvalanche
Base
Berachain
Blast
BNB Smart Chain
Boba
Celo
Chiliz
Cronos
Cyber
Degen
Ethereum
Fantom
Flare
Fraxtal
Immutable zkEVM
Injective Protocol
Iota
Kava
Kroma
Linea
Mantle
Metis
Mode
Moonbeam
Moonriver
Morph
Neon
Oasis
Optimism
opBNB
Palm
Polygon zkEVM
Polygon PoS
Public Goods Network
Scroll
SEI
Shimmer
Taiko
Telos
Tenet
Thundercore
Xai
XDC
ZetaChain
zkSync Era
Zora
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Subgraphs Alternatives
Explore web3 competitors and apps like Subgraphs.
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Streams
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QuickAlerts
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Tenderly Monitoring
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Virtual TestNets
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Hosted Hardhat
An Ethereum development environment for compiling, testing, debugging, and deploying smart contracts with advanced Solidity and TypeScript support.
0x
0x provides battle-tested APIs to embed fast, gasless, and deeply liquid crypto trading into decentralized applications.
Rarible
Rarible API is a fast, unified NFT API infrastructure providing real-time data and executable market features across Ethereum, Base, Polygon, and more than 10 other chains.
Core API
A Document Object Model for Web APIs designed to simplify API consumption and integration.
Pricing
Hosted Service | Decentralized Network | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Monthly) | Free | Custom pricing |
| Price (Annual) | Free | Custom pricing |
| Messaging | N/A | N/A |
| Support | Community support via Discord and GitHub | Dedicated support for Indexers and Delegators |
| Analytics |
Resources
The Graph provides extensive resources including detailed documentation, tutorials, blog posts, and video guides to help developers build and deploy subgraphs, participate in the network, and integrate blockchain data efficiently.