Schema Stitching

aid: schema-stitching
name: Schema Stitching
description: Schema Stitching is a GraphQL technique for combining multiple GraphQL schemas into a single unified API gateway.
  It enables developers to compose distributed GraphQL services, integrate third-party APIs, and build federated data layers
  by merging types, queries, and mutations from multiple subgraphs into one executable schema. The primary implementation
  is provided by The Guild's graphql-tools library, with support for type merging, stitching directives, schema delegation,
  and automated query planning.
type: Index
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
tags:
- API Composition
- API Gateway
- Federation
- GraphQL
- Microservices
- Schema Stitching
- Type Merging
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/schema-stitching/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2026-03-27'
modified: '2026-05-02'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
- aid: schema-stitching:schema-stitching
  name: Schema Stitching
  description: Schema Stitching is a GraphQL technique for combining multiple GraphQL schemas into a single unified API gateway.
    The @graphql-tools/stitch package creates a combined proxy layer that delegates requests through to underlying service
    APIs, supporting type merging, stitching directives, and automated query planning comparable to Apollo Federation.
  humanURL: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/stitching
  tags:
  - API Composition
  - GraphQL
  - Schema Stitching
  - Type Merging
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/stitching/docs
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/stitching/docs/getting-started
  - type: Handbook
    url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/stitching/handbook
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/ardatan/graphql-tools
  - type: npm Package
    url: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@graphql-tools/stitch
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/schema-stitching/refs/heads/main/json-schema/schema-stitching-config-schema.json
  - type: JSONStructure
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/schema-stitching/refs/heads/main/json-structure/schema-stitching-config-structure.json
  - type: JSONLD
    url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/schema-stitching/refs/heads/main/json-ld/schema-stitching-context.jsonld
  - url: graphql/schema-stitching-graphql.md
    type: GraphQL
- aid: schema-stitching:graphql-mesh
  name: GraphQL Mesh
  description: GraphQL Mesh allows stitching together multiple data sources including REST APIs, databases, and other GraphQL
    APIs into a single unified GraphQL schema. It applies schema stitching techniques to transform and federate heterogeneous
    data sources.
  humanURL: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/mesh
  tags:
  - API Gateway
  - GraphQL
  - Schema Stitching
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/mesh/docs
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/ardatan/graphql-mesh
- aid: schema-stitching:hive-gateway
  name: Hive Gateway
  description: Hive Gateway is a federated GraphQL routing engine from The Guild that supports both Apollo Federation and
    Schema Stitching approaches to compose distributed GraphQL services.
  humanURL: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/hive/docs/gateway
  tags:
  - API Gateway
  - Federation
  - GraphQL
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/hive/docs/gateway
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/the-guild-org/gateway
- aid: schema-stitching:apollo-federation
  name: Apollo Federation
  description: Apollo Federation is an alternative to schema stitching for composing distributed GraphQL services. It uses
    a supergraph approach with subgraph schemas annotated with federation directives, managed through Apollo Studio or self-hosted
    routers.
  humanURL: https://www.apollographql.com/docs/federation/
  tags:
  - API Gateway
  - Apollo
  - Federation
  - GraphQL
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.apollographql.com/docs/federation/
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/apollographql/federation
common:
- type: Website
  url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/stitching
- type: Documentation
  url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/stitching/docs
- type: Handbook
  url: https://the-guild.dev/graphql/stitching/handbook
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/ardatan
- type: Blog
  url: https://the-guild.dev/blog
- type: Vocabulary
  url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/schema-stitching/refs/heads/main/vocabulary/schema-stitching-vocabulary.yml
- type: Examples
  url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/schema-stitching/refs/heads/main/examples/schema-stitching-basic-gateway-example.json
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com