juniorGraphQL
What is a Resolver in GraphQL?
Updated Apr 28, 2026
Short answer
A Resolver is a function responsible for populating the data for a single field in your schema.
Deep explanation
Every field in a GraphQL query corresponds to a resolver function. If a resolver returns an object, execution continues to the next level of resolvers. If it returns a scalar, execution for that branch completes.
Real-world example
Writing a function that executes an SQL query to find a user when the user field is requested.
Common mistakes
- Putting too much business logic inside resolvers instead of delegating to a separate service/domain layer.
Follow-up questions
- What are the four arguments passed to every resolver?