Sitecore GraphQL Query Returns Items Without Language Version How To Fix

Hey guys! Ever run into a situation where your Sitecore GraphQL query is pulling in child items that don't even have a version in the language you're querying? It's a real head-scratcher, and trust me, you're not alone. This article will explore this common issue in Sitecore 10.1 (and potentially other versions), especially when working with JSS, GraphQL, and CMS. We'll break down the problem, understand why it happens, and, most importantly, provide you with solutions to get your queries behaving as expected. So, buckle up and let's dive into the world of Sitecore GraphQL!

Understanding the Issue

GraphQL queries in Sitecore are incredibly powerful for fetching data, but sometimes, they can return unexpected results. Imagine you're building a multilingual website using JSS and Sitecore. You have a content structure where each item should have a version in the specific language you're displaying. Now, you write a GraphQL query to fetch the child items of a particular parent item in a given language. To your surprise, the query returns items that don't have a version in that language. This can lead to broken pages, incorrect content display, and a generally frustrating experience for both developers and users.

This problem arises because Sitecore's GraphQL implementation, by default, might not strictly enforce language versioning when fetching child items. It might return items that exist in other languages but are missing in the currently requested language. This behavior can be particularly problematic in multilingual environments where content consistency is crucial. You might end up displaying fallback content from a different language, which isn't always the desired outcome. Moreover, this issue can impact performance, as you're fetching unnecessary data that you'll eventually need to filter out on the client-side. Identifying the root cause is the first step, which often involves understanding the nuances of Sitecore's data structure and GraphQL's query execution.

To further illustrate the problem, consider a scenario where you have a news article item in Sitecore. This article has versions in English and Spanish. Now, you create a child item, say, a "Related Articles" section, but you only create a version of this child item in English. If you run a GraphQL query to fetch the child items of the news article in Spanish, you might still get the "Related Articles" item, even though it doesn't exist in Spanish. This is because the default GraphQL behavior might be to return any child item regardless of its language version. This is where we need to implement strategies to filter out these items and ensure we only get the content relevant to the current language. This article will guide you through the various approaches you can take to solve this issue, from modifying your GraphQL query to configuring Sitecore's GraphQL schema.

Why Does This Happen?

The reason behind this behavior lies in how Sitecore's GraphQL schema is configured and how it interacts with Sitecore's content resolution mechanism. By default, the GraphQL schema might not have strict filters in place to check for language versions. When you query for child items, it essentially fetches all items that are children of the specified parent, regardless of their language versions. This can be efficient in some scenarios, but in multilingual setups, it can lead to the problem we're discussing.

Another factor contributing to this issue is Sitecore's fallback mechanism. If an item or a field doesn't have a version in the requested language, Sitecore might try to fall back to a default language or a shared language. While this is a useful feature for content reuse, it can interfere with GraphQL queries if not handled properly. The GraphQL endpoint might return the item from the fallback language, even if you explicitly requested a specific language. Understanding this fallback behavior is crucial for crafting accurate and language-specific queries.

Furthermore, the complexity of Sitecore's item structure and versioning system can make it challenging to write GraphQL queries that accurately reflect your content requirements. Sitecore items can have multiple versions, each associated with a specific language. Each version can have different field values. To ensure your GraphQL query only returns the correct version, you need to explicitly filter by language and version. This often requires a deeper understanding of Sitecore's API and how GraphQL interacts with it. Incorrectly configured queries can easily lead to the inclusion of items without the required language version. Therefore, a clear understanding of both Sitecore’s content structure and GraphQL's query capabilities is essential to avoid these pitfalls. In the following sections, we will explore different methods to address these issues and write more precise GraphQL queries.

Solutions to Avoid Items Without Language Versions

Okay, guys, let's get to the good stuff – how to fix this! There are several approaches you can take to ensure your GraphQL queries only return items that have a version in the requested language. We'll explore these solutions, ranging from modifying your GraphQL query to configuring Sitecore's GraphQL schema.

1. Filtering in Your GraphQL Query

The most straightforward approach is to add a filter to your GraphQL query that explicitly checks for the existence of a version in the desired language. You can use the hasVersion field within the GraphQL query to achieve this. This field allows you to specify the language you're interested in, and it will only return items that have a version in that language. This method is highly effective as it directly addresses the issue within the query itself, ensuring that you only retrieve the necessary items. By incorporating this filter, you can avoid fetching items that lack the required language version, thereby streamlining your data retrieval process and improving performance.

Here's an example of how you might use the hasVersion filter in your query:

{
  item(path: "/sitecore/content/Home") {
    children(where: { hasVersion: true, language: "en" }) {
      results {
        id
        name
        language
      }
    }
  }
}

In this example, we're querying for the children of the "Home" item, but we're only including items that have a version in English (language: "en"). The hasVersion: true part is crucial because it ensures that only those items with a version in the specified language are returned. This approach is beneficial because it's clear and concise, making your queries more readable and maintainable. Moreover, it pushes the filtering logic to the GraphQL endpoint, reducing the amount of data transferred and processed on the client-side. By employing such filters, you can significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your data retrieval operations.

2. Utilizing Predicates in Your Query

Another powerful technique to filter items in your GraphQL query is by using predicates. Predicates allow you to define more complex filtering logic, including checking for specific field values or conditions. In the context of language versions, you can use predicates to ensure that items have a version in the desired language and that the fields within that version are populated. This approach offers greater flexibility and control over your filtering criteria, enabling you to fine-tune your queries to meet specific requirements. By combining different predicates, you can create highly targeted queries that retrieve precisely the data you need.

Here’s how you might use predicates to filter items based on language version and other criteria:

{
  item(path: "/sitecore/content/Home") {
    children(where: { AND: [{ hasVersion: true, language: "en" }, { templateName: "Article" }] }) {
      results {
        id
        name
        language
      }
    }
  }
}

In this example, we're using the AND operator to combine two predicates: hasVersion: true, language: "en" and templateName: "Article". This query will only return child items that have a version in English and are based on the "Article" template. Predicates can also be used with other logical operators like OR and NOT, allowing you to create even more sophisticated filtering conditions. The key advantage of using predicates is that they allow you to build queries that are tailored to your specific content structure and retrieval needs. This level of precision can be particularly valuable in large and complex Sitecore implementations, where you need to ensure that your queries are as efficient and accurate as possible.

3. Custom GraphQL Schema Configuration

For a more global solution, you can configure your Sitecore GraphQL schema to automatically filter out items without a version in the requested language. This involves modifying the schema definition to include a default filter that is applied to all queries. This approach can be particularly beneficial if you have a consistent requirement to filter by language version across your application. By setting up a default filter at the schema level, you can avoid having to add the hasVersion filter to every query, which can save time and reduce the risk of errors. Moreover, it enforces a consistent data retrieval strategy throughout your application.

To implement this, you'll typically need to work with Sitecore's GraphQL schema configuration files. You can define a custom resolver or modify an existing one to include the language version check. This might involve writing some C# code to interact with Sitecore's API and filter the results based on the requested language. While this approach requires a deeper understanding of Sitecore's GraphQL implementation, it can lead to a more robust and maintainable solution in the long run. By centralizing the filtering logic within the schema, you ensure that all queries adhere to the same rules and provide a consistent view of your content.

4. Sitecore Content Search API

Another strategy to retrieve language-specific content involves leveraging Sitecore's Content Search API within your GraphQL resolvers. This API provides a powerful and flexible way to query Sitecore's content index, allowing you to apply complex filters and conditions. By integrating the Content Search API into your GraphQL resolvers, you can ensure that your queries only return items that match your specific language and version requirements. This approach is especially useful when dealing with large datasets or complex filtering scenarios, as the Content Search API is optimized for performance and scalability. It also allows you to take advantage of Sitecore's indexing capabilities, which can significantly speed up your query execution times.

To use the Content Search API, you'll need to write C# code within your GraphQL resolvers. This code will construct a search query that includes a filter for the desired language and any other relevant criteria. The search results can then be mapped to your GraphQL schema types and returned to the client. This approach offers a high degree of control over the data retrieval process, allowing you to implement sophisticated filtering logic that goes beyond what is possible with standard GraphQL filters. Moreover, it provides a consistent way to access Sitecore's content, regardless of the query's complexity. By mastering the use of the Content Search API, you can build highly efficient and accurate GraphQL endpoints that deliver the right content to your applications.

Best Practices and Considerations

Alright, guys, before we wrap up, let's talk about some best practices and considerations to keep in mind when working with Sitecore GraphQL and language versions. These tips will help you build robust and maintainable solutions that handle multilingual content effectively.

• Always specify the language: When querying for content in a multilingual Sitecore environment, always explicitly specify the language in your GraphQL query. This ensures that you're only retrieving content in the desired language and avoids potential issues with fallback languages or inconsistent data. By making language a mandatory parameter in your queries, you can prevent many common problems associated with multilingual content retrieval.
• Use consistent language codes: Sitecore uses specific language codes (e.g., "en", "es", "fr") to identify different languages. Make sure you're using these codes consistently throughout your application, including in your GraphQL queries and schema configurations. Inconsistent use of language codes can lead to unexpected results and make it difficult to maintain your content. Establishing a clear and consistent language code strategy is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of your multilingual content.
• Test your queries thoroughly: As with any code, it's essential to test your GraphQL queries thoroughly, especially when dealing with language versions. Test different scenarios, including cases where content is missing in a specific language, to ensure that your queries are behaving as expected. Automated testing can be particularly helpful in this regard, allowing you to quickly identify and fix any issues. By investing in comprehensive testing, you can ensure that your GraphQL endpoints are robust and reliable.
• Monitor performance: GraphQL queries can be powerful, but they can also be resource-intensive if not designed properly. Monitor the performance of your queries, especially in production environments, to identify any potential bottlenecks. Use Sitecore's logging and performance monitoring tools to track query execution times and resource consumption. Optimizing your queries and schema can significantly improve the performance of your application and ensure a smooth user experience. Regular performance monitoring is a key aspect of maintaining a healthy and scalable Sitecore solution.

Conclusion

So, guys, we've covered a lot in this article. We've explored the issue of Sitecore GraphQL queries returning items without a version in the requested language, understood why this happens, and discussed several solutions to address it. By filtering in your queries, utilizing predicates, configuring your GraphQL schema, and leveraging the Content Search API, you can ensure that your queries are returning the correct data in multilingual environments. Remember to follow the best practices we discussed to build robust and maintainable solutions. Happy querying!