API for GraphQL is a data access layer in Microsoft Fabric that enables quick and efficient querying of multiple data sources with a widely adopted and familiar API technology. The API allows you to abstract the specifics of backend data sources so you can concentrate on your application's logic and provide all the data a client needs, efficiently, in a single API call. GraphQL uses a simple query language and easily manipulated result sets, which minimizes the time it takes for applications to access your data in Fabric.
In May we announced the public preview of API for GraphQL. Now, months after a successful preview, we are very excited to announce that the Microsoft Fabric API for GraphQL is now generally available (GA) to all customers. This milestone marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing powerful, flexible, and efficient data access solutions for our customers. With the GA release, we are introducing several new capabilities worldwide over the next couple of weeks that will enhance your experience and expand the possibilities of what you can achieve with our Fabric Data API.
New Supported Data Sources: Azure SQL and Fabric SQL databases
One of the most anticipated features in this release is the support for new data sources, specifically Azure SQL and Fabric SQL databases (Preview). Now you can seamlessly integrate popular SQL databases into your GraphQL queries, providing a unified and efficient way to access and manipulate your data. Whether you are building complex data-driven applications or simple dashboards, the ability to query Azure SQL and Fabric SQL through GraphQL will streamline your development process and improve efficiency.With the new data sources, you can leverage the robust features of Azure SQL and Fabric SQL, such as advanced security, scalability, and high availability, while enjoying the flexibility and simplicity of GraphQL. This integration opens new opportunities for data analysis, reporting, and application development, making it easier than ever to harness the power of your data. Specifically for Fabric SQL databases, you can create a GraphQL API directly from your database in one click and have an API endpoint available in minutes:
Saved Credentials
Another significant enhancement in this GA release is the introduction of saved credentials. This feature allows you to use saved credentials to connect your API to data sources, eliminating the need to use client credentials to access backend tables, views, or stored procedures. With saved credentials the authenticated API user does not require direct access to the data; instead, a connection or saved credential is used to access the data between the API and the underlying tables in the data source. This approach enhances security by reducing the exposure of sensitive credentials and simplifies the management of data access permissions.Saved credentials provide a more streamlined and secure way to manage data access, especially in environments with multiple users and data sources. By centralizing credential management, you can ensure consistent and controlled access to your data, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and improving overall security.
Client credentials-based authentication will also be an available option. When adding a data source to your API you have the option and flexibility to define how your GraphQL API will access backend data. The single sign-on option will pass through client credentials to the data source and authorize the access based on the user making the call, while saved credential option will allow to choose persistent credentials for access:
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Monitoring Dashboard and Request Logging
Based on the newly released Fabric workspace monitoring currently in preview, the new API request activity feature introduces a monitoring dashboard that allows you to visualize API activity at a glance. This easy-to-understand dashboard provides insights based on different time ranges specified by the user (aggregated metrics) and allows you to go one level deeper to access detailed information about every request (logging). This feature is invaluable for troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and optimizing your API usage.With the monitoring dashboard, you can quickly identify and address issues, track usage patterns, and gain a deeper understanding of how your API is being used. This level of visibility empowers you to make data-driven decisions, improve the performance of your applications, and ensure a smooth and reliable user experience.
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CI/CD Support
API for GraphQL now supports robust Fabric CI/CD tools, including Git Integration (CI) and Deployment Pipelines (CD). With Git integration, developers can synchronize items in a workspace with GitHub or Azure DevOps repositories, ensuring that your GraphQL API definitions are always up-to-date and under version control. Deployment Pipelines allow developers to create stages (Dev, Test, Prod) with linked workspaces assigned to them, enabling seamless transitions between different environments.By adding Fabric API for GraphQL as a supported item in Deployment Pipelines and Git Integration, we are empowering developers to synchronize their GraphQL API definitions to a Git repository for source control purposes. This capability also allows for the import, export, and duplication of GraphQL APIs between different Dev/Test/Prod environments (workspaces) and enables automated deployments based on API changes to these workspaces. This integration streamlines the development lifecycle, enhances collaboration in your developer teams, and ensures consistency across your development, testing, and production environments.
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The general availability of API for GraphQL opens up new possibilities for data access and application development in Fabric, and we can't wait to see what you build with it. We hope you are as excited as we are about these new capabilities. You'll be able to try all of them over the next couple of weeks in the Microsoft Fabric portal. For more information on how to use and implement the new features, make sure to check our documentation. Stay tuned for more updates and enhancements in the future!