Mutations & Updates Interview Questions
Comprehensive mutations & updates interview questions and answers for Apollo GraphQL. Prepare for your next job interview with expert guidance.
Questions Overview
1. How do you implement mutations in Apollo Client?
Basic2. What are optimistic updates and their implementation?
Moderate3. How do you handle cache updates after mutations?
Moderate4. What is the purpose of refetchQueries?
Basic5. How do you implement error handling in mutations?
Moderate6. What are mutation variables and their usage?
Basic7. How do you handle concurrent mutations?
Advanced8. What is update function in mutations?
Moderate9. How do you implement batch mutations?
Advanced10. What are mutation loading states?
Basic11. How do you handle mutation rollbacks?
Advanced12. What are mutation hooks and their benefits?
Moderate13. How do you implement file uploads in mutations?
Moderate14. What are mutation options and configurations?
Moderate15. How do you handle dependent mutations?
Advanced16. What are mutation result types?
Basic17. How do you implement offline mutations?
Advanced18. What is mutation completion handling?
Moderate19. How do you handle mutation side effects?
Advanced20. What are mutation policies?
Moderate21. How do you implement mutation testing?
Moderate22. What are mutation fragments?
Advanced23. How do you handle mutation conflicts?
Advanced24. What are mutation directives?
Moderate25. How do you implement mutation rate limiting?
Advanced26. What are mutation best practices?
Moderate27. How do you handle mutation authorization?
Advanced28. What is mutation composition?
Advanced29. How do you implement mutation monitoring?
Moderate1. How do you implement mutations in Apollo Client?
BasicMutations implemented using useMutation hook. Configure variables, options, cache updates. Features: optimistic updates, error handling. Common pattern: mutation function returns promise with result.
2. What are optimistic updates and their implementation?
ModerateOptimistic updates provide immediate UI feedback before server response. Implement through optimisticResponse option. Features: temporary cache updates, automatic rollback on error. Improves perceived performance.
3. How do you handle cache updates after mutations?
ModerateCache updates through update function, refetchQueries. Implement cache modifications, field updates. Features: automatic cache normalization, manual cache writes. Ensures cache consistency.
4. What is the purpose of refetchQueries?
BasicRefetchQueries updates queries after mutation. Specify queries to refetch, variables. Features: automatic query updates, cache refresh. Ensures data consistency across components.
5. How do you implement error handling in mutations?
ModerateError handling through onError callback, error policies. Implement error messages, recovery logic. Features: error tracking, user feedback. Handles network errors, GraphQL errors.
6. What are mutation variables and their usage?
BasicMutation variables pass dynamic data to mutations. Configure through options object, typed variables. Features: type safety, dynamic values. Handles user input, dynamic data.
7. How do you handle concurrent mutations?
AdvancedConcurrent mutations through mutation queue, synchronization. Implement ordering, dependency handling. Features: race condition prevention, sequence control. Maintains data consistency.
8. What is update function in mutations?
ModerateUpdate function modifies cache after mutation. Access cache directly, perform updates. Features: manual cache writes, complex updates. Handles custom cache modifications.
9. How do you implement batch mutations?
AdvancedBatch mutations combine multiple operations. Implement through Apollo Link batch. Features: request batching, optimization. Reduces network requests, improves performance.
10. What are mutation loading states?
BasicLoading states track mutation progress. Access through mutation result object. Features: loading indicator, disabled states. Handles user feedback, UI updates.
11. How do you handle mutation rollbacks?
AdvancedRollbacks through error handling, cache restoration. Implement recovery logic, state management. Features: automatic rollback, manual recovery. Handles failed mutations.
12. What are mutation hooks and their benefits?
ModerateMutation hooks provide declarative mutation handling. Access mutation function, result data. Features: React integration, type safety. Simplifies mutation implementation.
13. How do you implement file uploads in mutations?
ModerateFile uploads through Apollo Upload Client. Handle multipart form data, progress. Features: file handling, upload tracking. Supports single/multiple file uploads.
14. What are mutation options and configurations?
ModerateMutation options configure behavior. Include variables, update function, optimistic response. Features: error policies, refetch queries. Controls mutation execution.
15. How do you handle dependent mutations?
AdvancedDependent mutations through chaining, async/await. Implement sequence control, error handling. Features: mutation ordering, data dependencies. Manages related mutations.
16. What are mutation result types?
BasicResult types define mutation responses. Include data, loading state, error information. Features: type safety, result handling. Structures mutation responses.
17. How do you implement offline mutations?
AdvancedOffline mutations through queue system, persistence. Implement retry logic, conflict resolution. Features: offline support, sync handling. Handles network interruptions.
18. What is mutation completion handling?
ModerateCompletion handling through onCompleted callback. Implement success actions, notifications. Features: result processing, UI updates. Handles successful mutations.
19. How do you handle mutation side effects?
AdvancedSide effects through update function, callbacks. Implement additional actions, state updates. Features: cache modifications, external updates. Manages mutation impacts.
20. What are mutation policies?
ModerateMutation policies control execution behavior. Configure error handling, cache updates. Features: retry policies, update strategies. Defines mutation behavior.
21. How do you implement mutation testing?
ModerateMutation testing through mock providers, test utilities. Implement assertions, response mocking. Features: result verification, error testing. Ensures mutation reliability.
22. What are mutation fragments?
AdvancedMutation fragments define reusable mutation parts. Share common fields, type definitions. Features: code reuse, maintainability. Reduces duplicate mutation code.
23. How do you handle mutation conflicts?
AdvancedConflict handling through version checks, merge strategies. Implement conflict resolution, retry logic. Features: data consistency, user feedback. Manages concurrent updates.
24. What are mutation directives?
ModerateMutation directives modify mutation behavior. Configure execution, caching. Features: custom directives, behavior control. Extends mutation capabilities.
25. How do you implement mutation rate limiting?
AdvancedRate limiting through Apollo Link, request throttling. Implement request control, queue management. Features: request limits, timing control. Prevents server overload.
26. What are mutation best practices?
ModerateBest practices include proper error handling, optimistic updates, cache management. Implement type safety, testing. Features: performance optimization, reliability. Ensures robust mutations.
27. How do you handle mutation authorization?
AdvancedAuthorization through context, headers. Implement access control, token handling. Features: permission checks, secure mutations. Ensures authorized access.
28. What is mutation composition?
AdvancedComposition combines multiple mutations. Implement reusable parts, shared logic. Features: code organization, maintainability. Structures complex mutations.
29. How do you implement mutation monitoring?
ModerateMonitoring through Apollo Studio, custom tracking. Implement performance metrics, error logging. Features: analytics, debugging. Tracks mutation behavior.