Glossary
What is FHIR GraphQL?
FHIR GraphQL is a GraphQL query interface over FHIR resources. Clients request the fields and related resources they need in one query, instead of multiple FHIR REST round trips.
In context
The schema is generated from the FHIR resource definitions. Common shapes include single-resource fetches by ID (`Patient(id: "123")`), list/search queries (`PatientList(name: "Smith")`), and inline reference resolution to traverse the graph (e.g. fetch a Patient with their recent Observations and active MedicationRequests in one query).
GraphQL on FHIR is mostly about read efficiency for frontends. Authorization should still be enforced server-side; otherwise the GraphQL surface becomes a bypass around the FHIR REST access rules.
How Fire Arrow handles it
Fire Arrow Server exposes a read-only GraphQL endpoint over its FHIR resources. Authorisation runs through dedicated GraphQL read and search rules, so the same access boundaries apply whether a request comes in over REST or GraphQL. Fire Arrow Core supports both read and write GraphQL because it delegates persistence to an upstream FHIR service.
