# GRAPHQL Schema Design > GraphQL type systems, queries, mutations, subscriptions, and schema design patterns. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/graphql-schema-design` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/graphql-schema-design` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/graphql-schema-design/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Integrations & APIs - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/graphql-schema-design --- # GraphQL Schema Design Designing GraphQL schemas for flexible, efficient APIs. ## Context You are designing a GraphQL schema. Think about types, fields, queries, mutations. ## Domain Context - **Types**: Nouns (User, Order, Product); fields are attributes - **Queries**: Read operations; no side effects - **Mutations**: Write operations; return results - **Subscriptions**: Real-time updates via WebSocket - **Fragments**: Reusable selections; avoid duplication ## Instructions 1. **Define Types**: User, Order, Product; what fields do they have? 2. **Design Queries**: Root query type; what can clients read? 3. **Design Mutations**: Root mutation type; what can clients change? 4. **Use Enums**: For fixed sets of values (OrderStatus, Role) 5. **Use Interfaces**: For shared fields across types (Node interface) 6. **Plan Subscriptions**: Real-time updates? What events? 7. **Document Null**: Mark required fields with ! ## Anti-Patterns - Over-nesting types; leads to N+1 query problems - Allowing mutations without auth checks; easy backdoors - No rate limiting on mutations; clients can spam writes - Exposing internal IDs directly; abstract away - Not planning pagination; large result sets kill performance ## Further Reading - GraphQL spec and best practices - Apollo GraphQL docs - Hasura GraphQL patterns --- > Source: [sethdford/claude-skills](https://github.com/sethdford/claude-skills) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).