Mocking Sitecore GraphQL Calls in Storybook for Next.js Sitecore XM Cloud
In Sitecore development, GraphQL plays a crucial role in fetching structured and hierarchical content. However, testing components that rely on live GraphQL endpoints can be cumbersome, especially when backend services are incomplete or unstable.
Fortunately, MSW (Mock Service Worker) and its Storybook addon offer a seamless way to mock GraphQL responses, allowing developers to simulate real-world scenarios directly in Storybook.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to mock Sitecore GraphQL queries in Storybook for a Next.js Sitecore XM Cloud project, ensuring your components are robust and reliable.
Why Mock GraphQL Queries in Storybook?
GraphQL allows you to fetch complex content efficiently, but testing against live data isn’t always practical. Mocking GraphQL queries helps you:
- Ensure Consistent Results: Develop and test components with stable, predictable data.
- Speed Up Development: Work without waiting for backend availability or dealing with slow responses.
- Cover Edge Cases: Simulate various scenarios, such as missing data or error states, without impacting the live environment.
By mocking GraphQL queries, you gain full control over the data your components receive, making the development process smoother and more efficient.
Step 1: Create a GraphQL API Route
Let’s begin by setting up a GraphQL API route in your Next.js project. This route will interact with the Sitecore GraphQL endpoint to fetch content.
Example API Route (pages/api/carouselCards.ts):
import { gql, GraphQLClient } from 'graphql-request';
import config from 'temp/config';
import type { NextApiRequest, NextApiResponse } from 'next';
export default async function handler(req: NextApiRequest, res: NextApiResponse) {
try {
const { sitecorePath, sitecoreLanguage } = req.body;
const data = await fetchCarouselData(sitecorePath, sitecoreLanguage);
res.status(200).json(data);
} catch (error) {
console.error('Error fetching Carousel Data:', error);
res.status(500).json({ error: 'Internal Server Error' });
}
}
const fetchCarouselData = async (sitecorePath: string, sitecoreLanguage: string) => {
const graphQLClient = new GraphQLClient(config.graphQLEndpoint);
graphQLClient.setHeader('sc_apikey', config.sitecoreApiKey);
const query = gql`
query GetCarouselData($path: String!, $language: String!) {
item(path: $path, language: $language) {
id
name
fields {
title {
value
}
description {
value
}
}
}
}
`;
return graphQLClient.request(query, {
path: sitecorePath,
language: sitecoreLanguage,
});
};
Step 2: Create a Custom Hook to Fetch Data
To fetch data from the GraphQL API route, we’ll create a custom hook using SWR. This hook allows you to handle data fetching and caching effortlessly. For more on SWR, see this comprehensive guide.
Custom Hook (hooks/useCarouselData.ts):
import useSWR from 'swr';
type CarouselArgs = {
sitecorePath: string;
sitecoreLanguage: string;
};
const fetcher = async (url: string, body: CarouselArgs) => {
const response = await fetch(url, {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify(body),
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
return response.json();
};
export const useCarouselData = (args: CarouselArgs) => {
const { data, error, isValidating } = useSWR(['/api/carouselCards', args], ([url, body]) =>
fetcher(url, body)
);
return {
carouselData: data,
isLoading: isValidating,
error,
};
};
Step 3: Mocking GraphQL Calls in Storybook
Now that we have our API route and custom hook, it’s time to mock the GraphQL query in Storybook using MSW.
Here’s a simplified version of the mock data for the GetCarouselData query:
const mockGraphQLResponse = {
data: {
item: {
id: 'mock-id',
name: 'Mocked Carousel',
fields: {
title: { value: 'Mocked Title' },
description: { value: 'This is a mocked description.' },
},
},
},
};
Add Mock Handlers
You can mock the GraphQL query at the story level or apply it globally across all stories.
1. Per Story Mocking
Use this method for testing isolated components with specific scenarios.
import { graphql } from 'msw';
import { Meta } from '@storybook/react';
export default {
title: 'Components/Carousel',
component: CarouselComponent,
parameters: {
msw: {
handlers: [
graphql.query('GetCarouselData', (req, res, ctx) => {
return res(ctx.data(mockGraphQLResponse));
}),
],
},
},
} as Meta;
2. Global Mocking in preview.tsx
Apply global handlers to make mocks available across all stories.
import { graphql } from 'msw';
export const parameters = {
msw: {
handlers: [
graphql.query('GetCarouselData', (req, res, ctx) => {
return res(ctx.data(mockGraphQLResponse));
}),
],
},
};
Step 4: Using the Custom Hook in a Component
Here’s how you can use the useCarouselData hook in your component:
const CarouselComponent = ({ sitecorePath, sitecoreLanguage }: { sitecorePath: string; sitecoreLanguage: string }) => {
const { carouselData, isLoading, error } = useCarouselData({ sitecorePath, sitecoreLanguage });
if (isLoading) return <div>Loading...</div>;
if (error) return <div>Error: {error.message}</div>;
return (
<div>
<h2>{carouselData.item.fields.title.value}</h2>
<p>{carouselData.item.fields.description.value}</p>
</div>
);
};
Why This Approach is Useful for Sitecore Developers
Mocking Sitecore GraphQL calls offers several benefits:
- Efficient Testing: Test components with realistic GraphQL responses, ensuring robust behavior.
- Decoupled Development: Work independently from backend teams, accelerating your development process.
- Comprehensive Debugging: Handle success and error scenarios easily, ensuring no edge cases are missed.
Final Thoughts on Mocking Sitecore GraphQL Calls in Storybook
Mocking GraphQL queries in Storybook with MSW is a game-changer for Sitecore developers. It allows you to efficiently develop and test components by simulating various data scenarios, from successful responses to edge cases, all without relying on live backend services. This ensures your components are robust, reliable, and ready for production.
For those working with REST APIs alongside GraphQL, don’t miss our guide on mocking REST API calls in Storybook. Combined, these tools create a powerful development workflow, enabling you to deliver high-quality Sitecore applications with confidence and efficiency.
References
