Variables Are Input Types

Formal Specification

• For every operation in a document
• For every variable on each operation
  • Let variableType be the type of variable
  • While variableType is LIST or NON_NULL
    • Let variableType be the referenced type of variableType
  • variableType must be of kind SCALAR , ENUM or INPUT_OBJECT

Explanatory Text

Variables can only be scalars, enums, input objects, or lists and non‐null variants of those types. These are known as input types. Objects, unions, and interfaces cannot be used as inputs.

For these examples, consider the following typesystem additions:

input ComplexInput { name: String, owner: String }

extend type QueryRoot {
  findDog(complex: ComplexInput): Dog
  booleanList(booleanListArg: [Boolean!]): Boolean
}

The following queries are valid:

query takesBoolean($atOtherHomes: Boolean) {
  dog {
    isHousetrained(atOtherHomes: $atOtherHomes)
  }
}

query takesComplexInput($complexInput: ComplexInput) {
  findDog(complex: $complexInput) {
    name
  }
}

query TakesListOfBooleanBang($booleans: [Boolean!]) {
  booleanList(booleanListArg: $booleans)
}

The following queries are invalid:

query takesCat($cat: Cat) {
  # ...
}

query takesDogBang($dog: Dog!) {
  # ...
}

query takesListOfPet($pets: [Pet]) {
  # ...
}

query takesCatOrDog($catOrDog: CatOrDog) {
  # ...
}