Enum Type Definition

Enumeration types are a special kind of scalar that is restricted to a particular set of allowed values.

Writing Enum Types

In graphql-php enum type is an instance of GraphQL\Type\Definition\EnumType which accepts configuration array in constructor:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\EnumType;

$episodeEnum = new EnumType([
    'name' => 'Episode',
    'description' => 'One of the films in the Star Wars Trilogy',
    'values' => [
        'NEWHOPE' => [
            'value' => 4,
            'description' => 'Released in 1977.'
        ],
        'EMPIRE' => [
            'value' => 5,
            'description' => 'Released in 1980.'
        ],
        'JEDI' => [
            'value' => 6,
            'description' => 'Released in 1983.'
        ],
    ]
]);

This example uses an inline style for Enum Type definition, but you can also use inheritance or schema definition language.

Configuration options

Enum Type constructor accepts an array with following options:

Option	Type	Notes
name	string	Required. Name of the type. When not set - inferred from array key (read about shorthand field definition below)
description	string	Plain-text description of the type for clients (e.g. used by GraphiQL for auto-generated documentation)
values	array	List of enumerated items, see below for expected structure of each entry

Each entry of values array in turn accepts following options:

Option	Type	Notes
name	string	Required. Name of the item. When not set - inferred from array key (read about shorthand field definition below)
value	mixed	Internal representation of enum item in your application (could be any value, including complex objects or callbacks)
description	string	Plain-text description of enum value for clients (e.g. used by GraphiQL for auto-generated documentation)
deprecationReason	string	Text describing why this enum value is deprecated. When not empty - item will not be returned by introspection queries (unless forced)

Construction from PHP enum

You can reuse your existing PHP enums in GraphQL. Leverage PHP attributes to add descriptions and deprecate values:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\Deprecated;
use GraphQL\Type\Definition\Description;

#[Description(description: 'Sweet and juicy.')]
enum Fruit
{
    #[Description(description: 'Rich in potassium.')]
    case BANANA;

    #[Deprecated(reason: 'Too sour.')]
    case CITRON;
}

PhpDocs will be used as descriptions if present, but are overridden by the Description attribute.

Wrap them with GraphQL\Type\Definition\PhpEnumType to use them in a GraphQL schema:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\PhpEnumType;

$fruitEnumType = new PhpEnumType(Fruit::class);

The following type will be deduced from Fruit:

"""
Sweet and juicy.
"""
enum Fruit {
  """
  Rich in potassium.
  """
  BANANA

  CITRON @deprecated(reason: "Too sour.")
}

Conversion rules:

• Client-given arguments will be converted to enum instances
• Returned output values are expected to be enum instances

Shorthand definitions

If internal representation of enumerated item is the same as item name, then you can use following shorthand for definition:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\EnumType;

$episodeEnum = new EnumType([
    'name' => 'Episode',
    'description' => 'One of the films in the Star Wars Trilogy',
    'values' => ['NEWHOPE', 'EMPIRE', 'JEDI']
]);

which is equivalent of:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\EnumType;

$episodeEnum = new EnumType([
    'name' => 'Episode',
    'description' => 'One of the films in the Star Wars Trilogy',
    'values' => [
        'NEWHOPE' => ['value' => 'NEWHOPE'],
        'EMPIRE' => ['value' => 'EMPIRE'],
        'JEDI' => ['value' => 'JEDI']
    ]
]);

which is in turn equivalent of the full form:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\EnumType;

$episodeEnum = new EnumType([
    'name' => 'Episode',
    'description' => 'One of the films in the Star Wars Trilogy',
    'values' => [
        ['name' => 'NEWHOPE', 'value' => 'NEWHOPE'],
        ['name' => 'EMPIRE', 'value' => 'EMPIRE'],
        ['name' => 'JEDI', 'value' => 'JEDI']
    ]
]);

Field Resolution

When object field is of Enum Type, field resolver is expected to return an internal representation of corresponding Enum item (value in config). graphql-php will then serialize this value to name to include in response:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\EnumType;
use GraphQL\Type\Definition\ObjectType;

$episodeEnum = new EnumType([
    'name' => 'Episode',
    'description' => 'One of the films in the Star Wars Trilogy',
    'values' => [
        'NEWHOPE' => [
            'value' => 4,
            'description' => 'Released in 1977.'
        ],
        'EMPIRE' => [
            'value' => 5,
            'description' => 'Released in 1980.'
        ],
        'JEDI' => [
            'value' => 6,
            'description' => 'Released in 1983.'
        ],
    ]
]);

$heroType = new ObjectType([
    'name' => 'Hero',
    'fields' => [
        'appearsIn' => [
            'type' => $episodeEnum,
             // Actual entry in response will be 'appearsIn' => 'EMPIRE'
            'resolve' => fn (): int => 5,
        ]
    ]
]);

The Reverse is true when the enum is used as input type (e.g. as field argument). GraphQL will treat enum input as name and convert it into value before passing to your app.

For example, given object type definition:

use GraphQL\Type\Definition\Type;
use GraphQL\Type\Definition\ObjectType;

$heroType = new ObjectType([
    'name' => 'Hero',
    'fields' => [
        'appearsIn' => [
            'type' => Type::boolean(),
            'args' => [
                'episode' => Type::nonNull($enumType)
            ],
            'resolve' => fn ($hero, array $args): bool => $args['episode'] === 5,
        ]
    ]
]);

Then following query:

fragment on Hero {
    appearsInNewHope: appearsIn(NEWHOPE)
    appearsInEmpire: appearsIn(EMPIRE)
}

will return:

[
    'appearsInNewHope' => false,
    'appearsInEmpire' => true
]