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Optimize GraphQL request performance using curl_upkeep()

M66 2025-05-26

In modern web development, GraphQL is widely used to efficiently query and manipulate data, especially in front-end and back-end architectures, GraphQL provides a more flexible way to obtain data than traditional REST APIs. However, as GraphQL queries become more complex, performance problems follow. In order to increase the response speed of requests and reduce server load, it is crucial to use some technical means rationally.

In PHP, curl_upkeep() is a relatively unpopular but very effective tool that can help developers improve the performance of GraphQL requests, especially when frequent requests are required. This article will explain how to use curl_upkeep() to optimize the performance of GraphQL requests.

What is curl_upkeep() ?

As a custom function of PHP, curl_upkeep() can efficiently reuse connections, reduce duplicate DNS queries and TCP connection establishment, and ultimately improve the response speed of requests. This is especially useful for GraphQL requests because it significantly reduces the latency of requests, especially when frequent interactions with GraphQL servers are required.

How to use curl_upkeep() in PHP?

To understand how to use curl_upkeep() , we first need to understand how cURL works in PHP. cURL is a powerful library in PHP that allows you to send requests through multiple protocols (such as HTTP and HTTPS). curl_upkeep() mainly improves performance by multiplexing connection pools.

Sample code
 <?php

// initialization cURL Session
function curl_upkeep($url, $queryData = null) {
    static $ch = null;

    if ($ch === null) {
        // If the connection pool is empty,initialization一个新的 cURL resource
        $ch = curl_init();
        curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
        curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, true);
        curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, false);
        curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
            'Content-Type: application/json',
            'Authorization: Bearer your_access_token' // Modify according to requirements
        ]);
    }

    // set up GraphQL Requested parameters
    $graphqlPayload = [
        'query' => $queryData
    ];

    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, 'https://m66.net/graphql'); // Replace with target GraphQL Server&#39;s URL
    curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS, json_encode($graphqlPayload));
    
    // Execute a request and get a response
    $response = curl_exec($ch);

    if (curl_errno($ch)) {
        echo 'Curl error: ' . curl_error($ch);
    }

    return json_decode($response, true);
}

// Example GraphQL Query
$queryData = '
{
    users {
        id
        name
    }
}
';

// use curl_upkeep() Send a request
$response = curl_upkeep('https://m66.net/graphql', $queryData);

echo '<pre>';
print_r($response);
echo '</pre>';

?>
Code parsing
  1. Static variable $ch : Declaring the variable $ch through static , we make sure that the cURL connection is initialized only once. When curl_upkeep() is called the second time, $ch is already an open cURL connection resource, which avoids the overhead of repeated connection establishment.

  2. curl_setopt() configuration: Sets common cURL configuration, such as CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER is used to return responses instead of direct output, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION is used to follow redirects, and CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER is used to set the request header.

  3. GraphQL request: The request body is in JSON format and contains a GraphQL query string. Here we place the query data in a JSON format array and send a POST request through CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS .

  4. Multiplexing connections: curl_upkeep() avoids the performance loss of reopening the connection every time by multiplexing the same cURL connection resources. In this way, even if multiple requests are sent, the overhead of establishing and demolition of connections can be minimized.

Why can curl_upkeep() improve performance?

  • Reduce the overhead of connection establishment: Each time a new HTTP connection is established, DNS resolution, three handshakes and other operations are required, and curl_upkeep() reduces this repetitive operation by multiplexing the connection pool.

  • Reduce TCP Handshake and Disconnect: Multiplexing connections means only one TCP Handshake is required when multiple requests. This will significantly reduce response time compared to establishing a new connection for each request.

  • Reduce network latency: In GraphQL queries, especially when API is called multiple times, reducing the time to establish a connection can reduce request latency and improve overall response speed.

Best practices for using curl_upkeep()

  1. Error handling: Due to the nature of connection multiplexing, if an error occurs in a request, it is recommended to perform appropriate retry or disconnect and reinitialization operations.

  2. Keep the connection pool size reasonable: If you need to deal with a large number of concurrent requests, it is recommended to implement a connection pool management mechanism to limit the maximum number of concurrent connections to prevent excessive consumption of system resources.

  3. Close the connection in time: Although curl_upkeep() can reuse the connection, in some cases, when the connection is no longer needed for a long time, the cURL resource should be manually closed to free up the system resources.

in conclusion

curl_upkeep() is an effective means to improve the performance of GraphQL requests in PHP. By multiplexing HTTP connections, it significantly reduces network latency and resource consumption, making high-frequency GraphQL requests more efficient. Combining other performance optimization methods, such as compressing data and optimizing query structures, can further improve the overall performance of web applications.