---
schema_version: "1"
id: 406fa3479d0ab327a053febe6a3f25f83c4cc072e09a57430c478e36fbbec226
title: Access External Data with the 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/salesforce_connect_graphql.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.salesforce_connect_graphql.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 33ecd135419a44bd3ad829419a5ff7e66871978b446333084075db5ca006edd3
description: Connect your users to external data sources that expose their capabilities via GraphQL.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Access External Data with the Salesforce Connect Adapter for GraphQL

Connect your users to external data sources that expose their capabilities via GraphQL.

To know the GraphQL schema specifications and naming conventions that must be adhered to for the Salesforce Connect adapter for GraphQL, see [Understand GraphQL Schema Requirements](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.graphql_requirements.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "The Salesforce Connect adapter for GraphQL requires that the GraphQL schema adhere to a specific format.").

- **[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.
- **[Set Up Salesforce Connect to Access External Data Exposed via GraphQL](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.graphql_setup.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Provide users access to external databases managed via GraphQL and integrate data in Salesforce so that they have a complete view of the business.
- **[Manage Qualifiers and External IDs for Salesforce Connect Adapter for GraphQL](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.graphql_manage_qualifiers_extids.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    When you sync a database table to create a Salesforce external object, a table qualifier is automatically generated. The qualifier constructs an external ID for the external object based on the global id field in the GraphQL schema. You can also configure the external ID based on any of the ID field types in the GraphQL schema.
- **[Considerations for Salesforce Connect Adapters for GraphQL](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.graphql_considerations.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Understand the special behaviors, limits, and recommendations for using the Salesforce Connect adapter for Amazon GraphQL.