GraphQL Formatter: Beautify Your Queries and Schemas
Learn how to format GraphQL queries and schemas for better readability. Discover best practices and use our free online GraphQL formatter tool.
February 2, 2026
Why Format GraphQL Queries?
GraphQL has revolutionized how developers interact with APIs, offering a flexible and efficient alternative to REST. However, as queries grow in complexity with nested fields, fragments, and variables, they can quickly become difficult to read. Properly formatted GraphQL code is essential for maintaining clarity and reducing errors in your API interactions.
Unformatted GraphQL queries, especially those copied from logs or network inspectors, often appear as a single long string. This makes it nearly impossible to understand the query structure at a glance. A well-formatted query reveals its hierarchy, making it easy to see which fields are requested, how fragments are used, and where variables are applied.
Query Readability Matters
GraphQL queries describe the exact shape of the data you want from an API. When these queries are well-formatted, the data structure becomes immediately apparent. Each level of nesting is clearly visible through indentation, field selections are easy to scan, and the relationships between types are obvious.
Consider a query that fetches user data with nested posts and comments. Without formatting, this might be a dense block of text. With proper formatting, the hierarchical nature of the request becomes clear, showing exactly how users relate to posts and posts relate to comments.
Schema Formatting Best Practices
GraphQL schemas define the contract between your API and its consumers. Well-formatted schemas are crucial for documentation and team communication. Here are key practices to follow:
- Type definitions: Each field in a type should be on its own line with consistent indentation. Group related fields together and add blank lines between logical sections.
- Arguments: When a field has multiple arguments, place each argument on its own line for clarity. Single arguments can remain inline.
- Directives: Place directives on the same line as the field they modify, or on the next line if the line would be too long.
- Comments: Use description strings above types and fields to document your schema. These render in GraphQL tools and documentation generators.
Best Practices for GraphQL Formatting
Consistent Indentation
Use two spaces for each level of nesting in your queries and schemas. This provides clear visual hierarchy without taking up too much horizontal space. Avoid mixing tabs and spaces, as this creates inconsistent rendering across different editors and tools.
Field Alignment
Align fields at the same nesting level to the same indentation column. This makes it easy to scan vertically and identify all fields at a particular level of the query. Arguments should be indented one level deeper than their parent field.
Fragment Organization
Place fragment definitions after the main query or mutation. Name fragments descriptively to indicate which type they apply to and what data they select. This makes fragments reusable and self-documenting.
How Our GraphQL Formatter Works
Our online GraphQL formatter instantly beautifies your queries, mutations, subscriptions, and schema definitions. Paste your unformatted GraphQL code into the input field, and the tool applies consistent indentation, proper line breaks, and clean spacing throughout your code.
The formatter handles all GraphQL syntax elements including nested selections, inline fragments, named fragments, variables, directives, and type definitions. It preserves your code's functionality while dramatically improving its readability.
Common Use Cases
- Debugging API calls: When inspecting network requests, GraphQL queries are often minified. Our formatter expands them for easy analysis.
- Documentation: Well-formatted queries in documentation help other developers understand your API usage patterns.
- Code reviews: Formatted GraphQL in pull requests is easier for reviewers to understand and evaluate.
- Learning GraphQL: Seeing properly structured queries helps newcomers understand how GraphQL queries map to data shapes.
Clean, well-formatted GraphQL code is a hallmark of professional API development. Use our free online GraphQL formatter to beautify your queries and schemas today.