docs/content/graphql/guides/using-the-explorer.md

title	intro	redirect_from	versions
Using the Explorer	You can run queries on real {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} data using the GraphQL Explorer, an integrated development environment in your browser that includes docs, syntax highlighting, and validation errors.	[/v4/guides/using-the-explorer]	[{free-pro-team *} {enterprise-server *} {github-ae *}]

About the GraphQL Explorer

{% if currentVersion == "free-pro-team@latest" %}

GraphQL Explorer is an instance of GraphiQL, which is a "graphical interactive in-browser GraphQL IDE."

{% note %}

Note: {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} has disabled mutations in the Explorer, but you can use them in your own GraphiQL instance.

{% endnote %}

{% else %}

GraphiQL, also referred to in this documentation as the GraphQL Explorer, is a "graphical interactive in-browser GraphQL IDE."

{% endif %}

Using GraphiQL

To use the GraphiQL app, download and install it from https://github.com/skevy/graphiql-app.

Configuring GraphiQL

1. Get an OAuth token.
2. Launch GraphiQL.
3. In the upper-right corner of GraphiQL, click Edit HTTP Headers.
4. In the Key field, enter Authorization. In the Value field, enter Bearer <token>, where <token> is your generated OAuth token.
5. Click the checkmark to the right of the token to save it.
6. To return to the editor, click outside of the Edit HTTP Headers modal.
7. In the GraphQL Endpoint field, enter {% data variables.product.graphql_url_pre %}.
8. In the Method dropdown menu, select POST.

{% note %}

Note: For more information about why POST is the method, see "Communicating with GraphQL."

{% endnote %}

You can test your access by querying yourself:

query {
  viewer {
    login
  }
}

If everything worked correctly, this will display your login. You're all set to start making queries.

Accessing the sidebar docs

All types in a GraphQL schema include a description field compiled into documentation. The collapsible Docs pane on the right side of the Explorer page allows you to browse documentation about the type system. The docs are automatically updated and will drop deprecated fields.

{% note %}

The Docs sidebar contains the same content that is automatically generated from the schema under "Reference," though it is formatted differently in places.

{% endnote %}

Using the variable pane

Some example calls include variables written like this:

query($number_of_repos:Int!){
  viewer {
    name
     repositories(last: $number_of_repos) {
       nodes {
         name
       }
     }
   }
}
variables {
   "number_of_repos": 3
}

This is the correct format to submit the call via a cURL POST (as long as you escape newlines).

If you want to run the call in the Explorer, enter the query segment in the main pane and the variables in the Query Variables pane below it. Omit the word variables from the Explorer:

{
   "number_of_repos": 3
}

Requesting support

{% data reusables.support.help_resources %}

Troubleshooting errors

Because GraphQL is introspective, the Explorer supports:

• Intelligent typeaheads aware of the current schema
• Validation error previews as you type

If you enter a query that is not well-formed or does not pass schema validation, a popup warns you of an error. If you run the query, the error returns in the response pane.

A GraphQL response contains several keys: a data hash and an errors array.

{
  "data": null,
  "errors": [
    {
      "message": "Objects must have selections (field 'nodes' returns Repository but has no selections)",
      "locations": [
        {
          "line": 5,
          "column": 8
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

It's possible you might run into an unexpected error that is not related to the schema. If this happens, the message will include a reference code you can use when reporting the issue:

{
  "data": null,
  "errors": [
    {
      "message": "Something went wrong while executing your query. This is most likely a GitHub bug. Please include \"7571:3FF6:552G94B:69F45B7:5913BBEQ\" when reporting this issue."
    }
  ]
}

{% note %}

Note: {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} recommends checking for errors before using data in a production environment. In GraphQL, failure is not total: portions of GraphQL queries may succeed while others fail.

{% endnote %}