GraphQL’s Unconventional HTTP 200 Error Paradigm Developers face a puzzling scenario where server errors in GraphQL still return an HTTP 200 status code. This design choice stems from positioning GraphQL at the application layer rather than the network layer. The behavior creates challenges because clients must recognize errors in the response body instead of through the status code.
Complexity in GraphQL’s Error Response Structure GraphQL responses include an array of error objects that detail the message, locations, and path of the error. The absence of a unique error identifier means clients rely on message content and extensions such as codes, complicating differentiation. This mixed result of genuine server errors and expected application anomalies demands careful handling on the frontend.
Streamlining Error Handling with Unions and Interfaces Employing union types enables the response to clearly return either valid data or a distinct error type, eliminating the need to iterate over an ambiguous error array. Integrating interfaces further standardizes errors by ensuring all error types provide consistent fields such as a message. This structured approach simplifies client-side logic and makes error management in GraphQL more robust.