---
schema_version: "1"
id: e24ec2c8b530e9800b640f50d58d3e1a795f5af3c0040580255e50a6ee468dc5
title: Create an External Data Source for Salesforce Connect Adapter for GraphQL
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/graphql_add_external_data_source.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.graphql_add_external_data_source.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 0b26f7223abe55adb5231148cd7385afa157d4e198307ccf28e4cb7daffbbc00
description: Connect your Salesforce org to data that’s stored in external databases managed via GraphQL.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Create an External Data Source for Salesforce Connect Adapter for GraphQL

Connect your Salesforce org to data that’s stored in external databases managed via GraphQL.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition">
        <colgroup>
          <col>
        </colgroup>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: both Salesforce Classic and Lightning Experience (not for
              high-data-volume external objects)</td>

          </tr>
          <tr class="">
            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">
              <p>Available in: <strong>Developer</strong> Edition</p>
              <p style="margin-bottom:0;">Available for an extra
                cost in: <strong>Enterprise</strong>, <strong>Performance</strong>, and
                <strong>Unlimited</strong> Editions
              </p>
            </td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table> <table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small permission">
        <colgroup>
          <col style="width:50%">
          <col style="width:50%">
        </colgroup>
        <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
          <tr class="">
            <th scope="colgroup" class="slds-cell-wrap" colspan="2" style="text-align:center;vertical-align:top;" id="d70720e74">User
              Permissions Needed</th>
          </tr>
        </thead>
        <tbody>
          <tr class="">
            <td data-label="User Permissions Needed" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e74 ">To create and edit external data sources:</td>

            <td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e74 ">Customize Application</td>

          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>

1. From Setup, enter External Data Sources in the Quick Find box, then select **External Data Sources**.
2. Click **New External Data Source**, or click **Edit** to modify an existing external data source.
3. Complete the fields.
    
    <table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small ">
            <colgroup>
              <col style="width:25%">
              <col style="width:75%">
            </colgroup>
            <thead class="slds-text-title_caps ">
              <tr class="">
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d70720e139">Field</th>
                <th scope="col" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" id="d70720e142">Description</th>
              </tr>
            </thead>
            <tbody>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e139 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">External Data Source</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e142 ">A user-friendly name for the external data source. The
                  label is displayed in the Salesforce user interface.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e139 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Name</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e142 ">A unique identifier that’s used to refer to this external
                  data source definition through the API.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e139 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Type</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e142 ">Select <strong class="uicontrol">GraphQL</strong>.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e139 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Named Credential</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e142 ">
                  <p>Enter the named credential URL you defined for GraphQL
                    API.</p>
                  <p style="margin-bottom:0;">To access the external system, Salesforce Connect
                    uses the authentication settings that are defined in the
                    named credential.</p>
                </td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e139 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Connection Timeout</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e142 ">Number of seconds to wait for a response from the
                  external system before timing out. By default, the value is
                  set to the maximum of <span id="graphql_add_external_data_source__field_connection_timeout_max"><a name="graphql_add_external_data_source__field_connection_timeout_max"><!-- --></a>120</span> seconds.</td>

              </tr>
              <tr class="">
                <td data-label="Field" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e139 ">
                  <samp class="parmname">Writable External Objects</samp>
                </td>

                <td data-label="Description" class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;" headers="d70720e142 ">Select this option only if you want to create, edit, and
                  delete data that’s stored in the external data source. By
                  default, external objects are read only.</td>

              </tr>
            </tbody>
          </table>
4. Click **Save**.

#### See Also

- [Work with External Data Sources](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.external_data_sources.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "An external data source specifies how to access an external system. Salesforce Connect uses external data sources to access data that's stored outside your Salesforce organization. Files Connect uses external data sources to access third-party content systems. External data sources have associated external objects, which your users and the Lightning platform use to interact with the external data and content.")
- [Salesforce Connect Adapter for GraphQL](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.graphql_adapter_about.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "GraphQL is a standard query language that allows applications to flexibly access required data and provides a modern way to integrate applications. Unlike traditional REST APIs, GraphQL provides granularity in specifying fields and relationships and is more efficient.")