Building GraphQL APIs in Node.js enables clients to request exactly the data they need, reducing over-fetching and providing flexible, efficient data access. As the creator of CoreUI with over 25 years of backend development experience, I’ve implemented GraphQL APIs for complex data requirements in enterprise applications. The most effective approach is using Apollo Server with well-defined schemas and resolvers for type-safe, performant API development. This provides powerful query capabilities and excellent developer experience with built-in documentation and introspection.