gql.tada is a free, open-source TypeScript library for zero-codegen, type-safe GraphQL queries. See features, setup, and top alternatives.
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Developer Tools
Pricing
Open Source, from Free
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Last updated
July 18, 2026
Free PlanAPIOpen Source
Overview
gql.tada is a free, open-source TypeScript library that infers fully accurate result and variable types for GraphQL queries and fragments directly within the TypeScript type system, eliminating the need for a separate code-generation build step.
Maintained by 0no.co and paired with the companion GraphQLSP language server plugin, gql.tada gives developers live, schema-aware autocompletion and type checking for GraphQL documents written as tagged template strings, right inside their editor.
Key Features
Because gql.tada performs type inference live inside the TypeScript compiler rather than through a generated-file pipeline, query and variable types are always in sync with the current schema and query text, with nothing to regenerate or go stale.
Features include schema-aware autocompletion via GraphQLSP, 'fragment masking' to enforce clean component-level data boundaries, full TSDoc self-documentation surfaced on hover, and tight interoperability with the urql GraphQL client.
Pricing
gql.tada is completely free and open source, distributed via npm with no paid tier, subscription, or commercial license.
There is no hosted service or enterprise edition; it is purely a development-time library that plugs into a project's existing TypeScript toolchain at no cost.
Key Features
Zero-codegen type inference — Infers GraphQL query and variable types live inside the TypeScript type system, with no separate build step to generate files.
Schema-aware autocomplete via GraphQLSP — A companion language server plugin provides in-editor autocompletion and diagnostics for GraphQL documents.
Fragment masking — Enforces that consumers explicitly unwrap fragment data, encouraging cleaner, component-scoped data-fetching patterns.
TSDoc self-documentation — All APIs are documented with TSDocs, surfacing inline documentation on hover in supporting editors.
urql interoperability — Built to work closely with the urql GraphQL client, with adaptability to other GraphQL clients.
Live editor diagnostics — Flags invalid queries and type mismatches directly in the editor as you write GraphQL documents.
Tagged template literal syntax — GraphQL documents are authored as plain TypeScript tagged template strings, requiring no new file format.
npm-distributed open source package — Installed as a standard npm dependency with no proprietary tooling or account required.
Pros & Cons
Pros
No build or codegen step to maintain or forget to re-run
Types are always accurate and immediately in sync with source changes
Tight editor integration via the GraphQLSP language server plugin
Smaller, newer ecosystem than the long-established GraphQL Code Generator
Best editor experience currently depends on TypeScript-aware language server support
Tightest first-class integration is with urql rather than every GraphQL client
Debugging type inference issues requires understanding TypeScript's type system internals
Less community documentation and tutorial content than more mature codegen tooling
Pricing
Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gql.tada?
gql.tada is a free, open-source TypeScript library that infers fully-typed GraphQL query and variable types directly from your schema, without requiring a separate code-generation step.
Is gql.tada free?
Yes, gql.tada is completely free and open source, distributed via npm with no paid tier or commercial license.
Do I still need a build step to use gql.tada?
No separate code-generation build step is required; type inference happens live inside the TypeScript compiler as you write GraphQL documents.
Does gql.tada work with Apollo Client?
gql.tada's core type-inference engine is client-agnostic, though it is most tightly built and documented for use with the urql GraphQL client.
What is GraphQLSP?
GraphQLSP is a companion TypeScript language server plugin, also maintained by 0no.co, that provides schema-aware autocompletion and diagnostics for GraphQL documents inside supporting editors.
What is fragment masking in gql.tada?
Fragment masking is a pattern that requires consumers of a GraphQL fragment to explicitly unwrap its data rather than accessing fields directly, encouraging cleaner component-level data boundaries.