Relay

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Score6.6

Rank#9 of 25

Free planNo

Runs onAndroid, iOS, Web

Summary

Relay is a free GraphQL client for React that combines the data needs of components into optimized queries that can be prepared in advance. Components declare what they need, and Relay aggregates requirements, including removing duplicate fields from requests. Its normalized data store keeps components observing the same data in sync. Interface features include loading states, pagination, refetching, optimistic updates and reverting those updates when mutations fail. Queries can defer some data and progressively render as the rest streams in. Relay generates TypeScript types for GraphQL snippets and provides editor features such as schema autocompletion and go-to-definition. Developers can configure its network layer for HTTP, WebSockets, authentication, caching, telemetry and form-data uploads. Relay requires GraphQL, a Babel plugin and the Relay Compiler; production guidance recommends running the compiler in CI and keeping generated artifacts in source control. Documentation covers React Native and setup with React, Vite, TypeScript and Babel. Relay recommends persisted queries to restrict clients to queries fixed at build time.

Who it is for

Relay suits React developers building GraphQL applications, particularly those using Flow or TypeScript and needing generated types or coordinated data requirements across components. It requires a GraphQL setup, Babel plugin and Relay Compiler.

What is good

Combines and optimizes component data requirements.
Keeps shared data synchronized in a normalized store.
Supports optimistic updates and rollbacks.
Generates TypeScript types for GraphQL snippets.
Works with React Native.

What to know first

Requires GraphQL.
Requires a Babel plugin and Relay Compiler.
Production guidance calls for CI compilation and checked-in artifacts.

Verdict

Relay offers a broad set of GraphQL data and UI patterns for React, including type generation and streamed rendering. Account for its compiler and Babel requirements when evaluating the setup.

Compared on GraphQL tools

Free plan: Yesrelay.dev
Client code generation: Yesrelay.dev
Operation testing: Yesrelay.dev
Server languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Flowrelay.dev

Facts

Product: Relay is a GraphQL client for React that combines component data needs into efficient pre-loadable queries.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Declarative data: Components declare the data they need, and Relay generates optimized queries for them.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Built-in UI patterns: Relay supports loading states, pagination, refetching, optimistic updates, and rollbacks.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Shared state: Relay maintains a normalized data store that keeps components observing the same data in sync.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Type safety: Relay generates TypeScript types for GraphQL snippets to catch errors statically.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Streaming: Relay can defer parts of a query and progressively re-render the UI as data streams in.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Editor support: Relay editor support provides GraphQL schema autocompletion and go-to-definition.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Network transports: Developers can configure HTTP, WebSockets, and application-appropriate authentication through Relay's network layer.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Network customization: The network layer can be customized for behaviors such as network-level caching, telemetry, or form-data uploads for mutations.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Security guidance: Relay recommends persisted queries, also called trusted documents, to restrict clients to queries locked in at build time.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Production setup: The production guide recommends running the Relay Compiler in CI and keeping generated artifacts in source control.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Company and project: The site identifies Meta Platforms, Inc. in its copyright notice and says Relay was built in tandem with GraphQL and is used at Facebook scale.relay.dev · 2 Oct 2026
Data consistency: Relay maintains a normalized data store so components observing the same data stay in sync.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Optimizations: Relay aggregates and optimizes component data requirements, including deduplicating identical fields for efficient GraphQL requests.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Mutations: Relay supports optimistic updates, error handling, and automatically reverting optimistic changes when mutations fail.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Generated types: Relay generates TypeScript types for GraphQL snippets, and the homepage also describes generated Flow or TypeScript types.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
More features: Relay includes loading states, pagination, refetching, optimistic updates, rollbacks, and streamed or deferred data.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Integrations: The quick start documents setup with React, Vite, TypeScript, Babel, and the Relay Compiler.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Requirements: Relay requires GraphQL; its homepage says users need a Babel plugin and must run the Relay Compiler.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Server conventions: Relay provides first-class support for GraphQL Connections when the server supports them and relies on globally unique object IDs for caching and refetching.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Supported usage: The homepage says Relay works out of the box with Create React App and Next.js, and identifies Flow or TypeScript users as a likely fit.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
React Native: The official documentation says Relay also works with React Native.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026
Scale: The homepage says Relay is used in Facebook infrastructure across tens of thousands of components and has full-time staff working to improve it.relay.dev · 3 Oct 2026