Strawberry — Type-Annotated GraphQL Library for Python

Introduction

Strawberry is a modern Python GraphQL library built on type annotations and dataclasses. Instead of writing schema definitions in a separate DSL, you define your GraphQL types directly in Python using decorators and standard typing, getting full IDE autocompletion and type checking for free.

What Strawberry Does

• Defines GraphQL schemas using Python type annotations and dataclasses
• Generates schema SDL automatically from decorated Python classes
• Integrates with Django, FastAPI, Flask, and ASGI frameworks
• Supports subscriptions, federation, and file uploads
• Provides a built-in GraphiQL IDE for development

Architecture Overview

Strawberry uses Python decorators to transform regular classes into GraphQL types at import time. A schema compiler inspects type annotations to build the GraphQL type system, resolvers, and validation rules. The execution layer delegates to graphql-core for query parsing and validation while adding async support and DataLoader integration.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via pip: pip install strawberry-graphql[fastapi]
• Add framework integration (Django, FastAPI, Flask, Starlette)
• Configure via schema instantiation options (extensions, directives)
• Enable debug mode with built-in GraphiQL at /graphql
• Deploy as a standard ASGI/WSGI application

Key Features

• Code-first schema definition with full IDE support
• Native async/await support for resolvers
• Built-in DataLoader pattern for N+1 query prevention
• Apollo Federation support for distributed graphs
• Pydantic integration for input validation

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Graphene — Older Python GraphQL library; more verbose class-based API
• Ariadne — Schema-first approach using SDL strings; Strawberry is code-first
• tartiflette — Async-first with SDL; less community adoption
• Apollo Server (JS) — Node.js equivalent; Strawberry brings similar DX to Python

FAQ

Q: Can I use Strawberry with Django? A: Yes. Install strawberry-graphql-django for model integration, permission handling, and pagination support.

Q: Does Strawberry support file uploads? A: Yes. It implements the GraphQL multipart request specification for file upload mutations.

Q: How does Strawberry handle authentication? A: Via context injection. Your framework middleware sets auth info on the request context, which resolvers access through the info parameter.

Q: Is Strawberry compatible with Apollo Federation? A: Yes. Decorate types with @strawberry.federation.type and configure entity resolvers to participate in a federated graph.

Sources

• https://github.com/strawberry-graphql/strawberry
• https://strawberry.rocks/