Refreshing Data Client-Side after Mutations when Data Initially Loaded using Apollo in SSR Component in Next 14

If you’re building a server-side rendered (SSR) application using Next 14 and Apollo, you might have encountered a common issue: how to refresh data on the client-side after making mutations when the initial data is loaded from the server. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll explore the solution to this problem and provide step-by-step instructions to get you up and running.

Understanding the Problem

When using Apollo with Next 14, the initial data is loaded from the server using Server-Side Rendering (SSR). This is great for SEO and provides a better user experience. However, when you make mutations to the data on the client-side, the data doesn’t automatically refresh. This is because the server-side rendered data is not aware of the client-side mutations.

Imagine you’re building a blogging platform, and you want to allow users to create new posts. When the user creates a new post, you want the post list to refresh automatically on the client-side. Without a solution, the user would need to reload the page to see the updated post list.

Step 1: Set up Apollo Client and Next 14

Before we dive into the solution, make sure you have Apollo Client and Next 14 set up correctly. If you’re new to Apollo Client, start by creating a new Next 14 project and installing the required dependencies:

npm install @apollo/client next

Then, create an `apollo-client.js` file to set up Apollo Client:

import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache } from '@apollo/client';

const client = new ApolloClient({
  uri: 'https://your-graphql-api.com/graphql',
  cache: new InMemoryCache(),
});

export default client;

In your `pages/_app.js` file, wrap your application with the `ApolloProvider` component:

import React from 'react';
import { ApolloProvider } from '@apollo/client';
import client from '../apollo-client';
import '../styles.css';

function MyApp({ Component, pageProps }) {
  return (
    <ApolloProvider client={client}>
      <Component {...pageProps} />
    </ApolloProvider>
  );
}

export default MyApp;

Step 2: Use `useQuery` with `fetchPolicy`

In your component, use the `useQuery` hook from `@apollo/client` to fetch data from your GraphQL API. Make sure to set the `fetchPolicy` to `cache-and-network` to enable caching and network fetching:

import { useQuery, gql } from '@apollo/client';

const GET_POSTS = gql`
  query GetPosts {
    posts {
      id
      title
      content
    }
  }
`;

function PostList() {
  const { data, loading, error } = useQuery(GET_POSTS, {
    fetchPolicy: 'cache-and-network',
  });

  if (loading) return <p>Loading...</p>;
  if (error) return <p>Error: {error.message}</p>;

  return (
    <ul>
      {data.posts.map(post => (
        <li key={post.id}>{post.title}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  );
}

export default PostList;

Step 3: Implement Mutations and Cache Updates

In your component, create a mutation to create a new post using the `useMutation` hook:

import { useMutation, gql } from '@apollo/client';

const CREATE_POST = gql`
  mutation CreatePost($title: String!, $content: String!) {
    createPost(title: $title, content: $content) {
      id
      title
      content
    }
  }
`;

function CreatePost() {
  const [createPost, { loading, error }] = useMutation(CREATE_POST);

  const handleSubmit = async (event) => {
    event.preventDefault();
    const title = event.target.title.value;
    const content = event.target.content.value;

    try {
      await createPost({ variables: { title, content } });
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  };

  return (
    <form onSubmit={handleSubmit}>
      <input type="text" name="title" />
      <textarea name="content" />
      <button type="submit">Create Post</button>
    </form>
  );
}

export default CreatePost;

After creating a new post, update the cache to reflect the new data. You can do this using the `update` function provided by the `useMutation` hook:

import { useMutation, gql } from '@apollo/client';

const CREATE_POST = gql`
  mutation CreatePost($title: String!, $content: String!) {
    createPost(title: $title, content: $content) {
      id
      title
      content
    }
  }
`;

function CreatePost() {
  const [createPost, { loading, error }] = useMutation(CREATE_POST, {
    update(cache, { data: { createPost } }) {
      const existingPosts = cache.readQuery({ query: GET_POSTS });
      cache.writeQuery({
        query: GET_POSTS,
        data: {
          posts: [...existingPosts.posts, createPost],
        },
      });
    },
  });

  // ...
}

export default CreatePost;

Step 4: Refresh Data on the Client-Side

Now that you’ve updated the cache, you need to refresh the data on the client-side. You can do this by using the `useQuery` hook with the `fetchPolicy` set to `cache-first`:

import { useQuery, gql } from '@apollo/client';

const GET_POSTS = gql`
  query GetPosts {
    posts {
      id
      title
      content
    }
  }
`;

function PostList() {
  const { data, loading, error } = useQuery(GET_POSTS, {
    fetchPolicy: 'cache-first',
  });

  // ...
}

export default PostList;

By setting `fetchPolicy` to `cache-first`, Apollo Client will first check the cache for the data. If the data is available in the cache, it will return the cached data instead of making a network request. This ensures that the data is refreshed on the client-side after making a mutation.

Conclusion

Refreshing data on the client-side after making mutations when the initial data is loaded using Apollo in an SSR component in Next 14 can be a challenge. However, by following these steps, you can ensure that your data is updated in real-time on the client-side:

• Set up Apollo Client and Next 14 correctly
• Use `useQuery` with `fetchPolicy` set to `cache-and-network`
• Implement mutations and cache updates using `useMutation`
• Refresh data on the client-side using `useQuery` with `fetchPolicy` set to `cache-first`

By following these steps, you can build fast and efficient applications that provide a seamless user experience.

Keyword	Meta Description
Refreshing data client-side after mutations when data initially loaded using apollo in SSR component in Next 14	Learn how to refresh data on the client-side after making mutations when the initial data is loaded using Apollo in an SSR component in Next 14. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get up and running.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Try implementing these steps in your own project and see the results for yourself. Happy coding!

1. Get started with Apollo Client
2. Get started with Next 14
3. Learn more about GraphQL queries

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