The Graph is a decentralized protocol that allows for indexing and querying of blockchain data. It provides a solution to the challenge of querying data that is difficult to access directly from the blockchain. Projects like Uniswap and NFT initiatives such as Bored Ape Yacht Club store complex smart contract data on the Ethereum blockchain, making it challenging to read anything beyond basic information.

The Graph enables more advanced real-world queries and operations, including aggregation, search, relationships, and non-trivial filtering. The protocol works by indexing and enabling efficient querying of blockchain data through APIs known as subgraphs. These subgraphs are written using a subgraph manifest, which defines the relevant smart contracts and events to pay attention to.

The Graph CLI is used to store the subgraph definition in IPFS and initiate the indexing process. The result is a performant GraphQL API that allows developers to retrieve and display blockchain data in rich UIs for end-users. The Graph offers both a hosted service and a decentralized protocol, both backed by the open source Graph Node implementation.

To learn more about writing subgraphs, deploying them, and querying data, developers can explore the Graph Explorer and examine already deployed subgraphs