Mar 1, 2025
Next.js with GraphQL, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL: How They Fit Together
nextjsgraphqlmongodbpostgresqlarchitecturebackend
Next.js is a full-stack React framework, not a database or API protocol. This post explains how GraphQL sits between Next.js and databases like MongoDB and PostgreSQL, and how your architecture changes depending on where you host the GraphQL server.
1Clarifies the roles of Next.js, GraphQL, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL in a real-world stack.
2Shows how to consume GraphQL from Next.js Server Components with a minimal fetch-based client.
3Describes how to host a GraphQL API inside Next.js using Route Handlers.
4Compares MongoDB vs PostgreSQL usage behind GraphQL at the resolver level.
5Provides a practical decision guide for choosing separation of services and database type.