Strawberry GraphQL
Python GraphQL library using type annotations and dataclasses to define schemas. Strawberry is the modern Python GraphQL framework — code-first using @strawberry.type, @strawberry.field decorators with standard Python type hints. No separate SDL files needed. Integrates with Django, FastAPI, Litestar, Channels (subscriptions), and ASGI. Actively developed with full async support.
Score Breakdown
⚙ Agent Friendliness
🔒 Security
Permission classes for resolver-level authorization. Query depth/complexity limits configurable to prevent DoS via deeply nested queries. Framework-level CSRF/auth handled by Django/FastAPI.
⚡ Reliability
Best When
You're building a Python GraphQL API and want type-safe code-first schema definition using Python dataclasses and type hints — Strawberry is the modern Graphene successor.
Avoid When
You prefer SDL-first schema design in Python — use Ariadne. Or for simple APIs where GraphQL complexity isn't justified.
Use Cases
- • Build type-safe GraphQL APIs in Python using dataclasses and type hints without writing SDL schema files separately
- • Add GraphQL endpoint to FastAPI or Django backend agents with minimal configuration using Strawberry's ASGI/WSGI integration
- • Implement GraphQL subscriptions for real-time agent notifications using Strawberry's async subscription support with Django Channels or websockets
- • Build federated GraphQL schemas in Python microservices using Strawberry's Apollo Federation support
- • Create GraphQL APIs for AI agent backends that need complex querying capabilities over structured data
Not For
- • SDL-first development — Strawberry is code-first only; use Ariadne for SDL-first Python GraphQL
- • Simple REST APIs — FastAPI or Flask are more appropriate; GraphQL adds complexity only justified by complex querying needs
- • Older Python < 3.8 — Strawberry requires Python 3.8+ for dataclass and type hint features
Interface
Authentication
Strawberry is a GraphQL framework library — authentication is provided by the underlying web framework (Django auth, FastAPI dependencies, etc.). Strawberry provides permission classes for field/resolver-level authorization.
Pricing
MIT-licensed open source Python library.
Agent Metadata
Known Gotchas
- ⚠ Strawberry uses Python dataclasses — all @strawberry.type fields must have type annotations; missing annotations produce runtime errors at schema build
- ⚠ Optional fields require Optional[T] type annotation and default=strawberry.UNSET — Python's default=None and GraphQL's null are distinct; use UNSET for omitted fields
- ⚠ Lazy type resolution (for circular references) requires using Annotated types with strawberry.lazy() — forgetting this with circular type references causes RecursionError
- ⚠ Django integration uses sync resolvers by default — async resolvers require sync_to_async wrapper or Django 4.1+ async views; mixing sync/async in Django can cause thread issues
- ⚠ Strawberry's permission classes must be implemented as classes not functions — function-based permissions don't integrate with Strawberry's permission system
- ⚠ Subscriptions require ASGI server and async support (Daphne, Uvicorn) — WSGI servers (Gunicorn without ASGI workers) don't support WebSocket subscriptions
Alternatives
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Scores are editorial opinions as of 2026-03-07.