Relay Pagination

Relay Pagination

Master Relay's cursor-based pagination for efficiently loading and displaying large datasets with infinite scroll and load more patterns.

Overview

Relay implements the GraphQL Cursor Connections Specification for efficient pagination. It provides hooks like usePaginationFragment for declarative pagination with automatic cache updates and connection management.

Installation and Setup

Pagination Query Structure

# schema.graphql
type Query {
  posts(
    first: Int
    after: String
    last: Int
    before: String
  ): PostConnection!
}

type PostConnection {
  edges: [PostEdge!]!
  pageInfo: PageInfo!
  totalCount: Int
}

type PostEdge {
  cursor: String!
  node: Post!
}

type PageInfo {
  hasNextPage: Boolean!
  hasPreviousPage: Boolean!
  startCursor: String
  endCursor: String
}

type Post {
  id: ID!
  title: String!
  body: String!
}

Core Patterns

1. Basic Pagination

// PostsList.jsx
import { graphql, usePaginationFragment } from 'react-relay';

const PostsListFragment = graphql`
  fragment PostsList_query on Query
  @refetchable(queryName: "PostsListPaginationQuery")
  @argumentDefinitions(
    first: { type: "Int", defaultValue: 10 }
    after: { type: "String" }
  ) {
    posts(first: $first, after: $after)
    @connection(key: "PostsList_posts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
      pageInfo {
        hasNextPage
        endCursor
      }
    }
  }
`;

function PostsList({ query }) {
  const {
    data,
    loadNext,
    loadPrevious,
    hasNext,
    hasPrevious,
    isLoadingNext,
    isLoadingPrevious,
    refetch
  } = usePaginationFragment(PostsListFragment, query);

  return (
    <div>
      <button
        onClick={() => refetch({ first: 10 })}
        disabled={isLoadingNext}
      >
        Refresh
      </​button>

      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}

      {hasNext && (
        <button
          onClick={() => loadNext(10)}
          disabled={isLoadingNext}
        >
          {isLoadingNext ? 'Loading...' : 'Load More'}
        </​button>
      )}
    </​div>
  );
}

export default PostsList;

2. Infinite Scroll

// InfiniteScrollPosts.jsx
import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
import { graphql, usePaginationFragment } from 'react-relay';

const InfiniteScrollFragment = graphql`
  fragment InfiniteScrollPosts_query on Query
  @refetchable(queryName: "InfiniteScrollPostsQuery")
  @argumentDefinitions(
    first: { type: "Int", defaultValue: 20 }
    after: { type: "String" }
  ) {
    posts(first: $first, after: $after)
    @connection(key: "InfiniteScroll_posts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
    }
  }
`;

function InfiniteScrollPosts({ query }) {
  const { data, loadNext, hasNext, isLoadingNext } = usePaginationFragment(
    InfiniteScrollFragment,
    query
  );

  const observerRef = useRef();
  const loadMoreRef = useRef();

  useEffect(() => {
    const observer = new IntersectionObserver(
      (entries) => {
        if (entries[0].isIntersecting && hasNext && !isLoadingNext) {
          loadNext(20);
        }
      },
      { threshold: 0.5 }
    );

    const currentRef = loadMoreRef.current;
    if (currentRef) {
      observer.observe(currentRef);
    }

    observerRef.current = observer;

    return () => {
      if (currentRef) {
        observer.unobserve(currentRef);
      }
    };
  }, [hasNext, isLoadingNext, loadNext]);

  return (
    <div>
      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}

      {hasNext && (
        <div ref={loadMoreRef} className="load-more-trigger">
          {isLoadingNext && <Spinner />}
        </​div>
      )}

      {!hasNext && <div>No more posts</​div>}
    </​div>
  );
}

3. Bidirectional Pagination

// BidirectionalPosts.jsx
const BidirectionalFragment = graphql`
  fragment BidirectionalPosts_query on Query
  @refetchable(queryName: "BidirectionalPostsQuery")
  @argumentDefinitions(
    first: { type: "Int" }
    after: { type: "String" }
    last: { type: "Int" }
    before: { type: "String" }
  ) {
    posts(first: $first, after: $after, last: $last, before: $before)
    @connection(key: "Bidirectional_posts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
      pageInfo {
        hasNextPage
        hasPreviousPage
        startCursor
        endCursor
      }
    }
  }
`;

function BidirectionalPosts({ query }) {
  const {
    data,
    loadNext,
    loadPrevious,
    hasNext,
    hasPrevious,
    isLoadingNext,
    isLoadingPrevious
  } = usePaginationFragment(BidirectionalFragment, query);

  return (
    <div>
      {hasPrevious && (
        <button
          onClick={() => loadPrevious(10)}
          disabled={isLoadingPrevious}
        >
          {isLoadingPrevious ? 'Loading...' : 'Load Previous'}
        </​button>
      )}

      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}

      {hasNext && (
        <button
          onClick={() => loadNext(10)}
          disabled={isLoadingNext}
        >
          {isLoadingNext ? 'Loading...' : 'Load Next'}
        </​button>
      )}
    </​div>
  );
}

4. Filtered Pagination

// FilteredPosts.jsx
const FilteredPostsFragment = graphql`
  fragment FilteredPosts_query on Query
  @refetchable(queryName: "FilteredPostsQuery")
  @argumentDefinitions(
    first: { type: "Int", defaultValue: 10 }
    after: { type: "String" }
    status: { type: "PostStatus" }
    authorId: { type: "ID" }
  ) {
    posts(
      first: $first
      after: $after
      status: $status
      authorId: $authorId
    )
    @connection(key: "FilteredPosts_posts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
    }
  }
`;

function FilteredPosts({ query }) {
  const [status, setStatus] = useState('PUBLISHED');
  const [authorId, setAuthorId] = useState(null);

  const { data, loadNext, hasNext, refetch } = usePaginationFragment(
    FilteredPostsFragment,
    query
  );

  const handleFilterChange = (newStatus, newAuthorId) => {
    setStatus(newStatus);
    setAuthorId(newAuthorId);

    refetch({
      first: 10,
      after: null,
      status: newStatus,
      authorId: newAuthorId
    });
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <FilterControls
        status={status}
        authorId={authorId}
        onChange={handleFilterChange}
      />

      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}

      {hasNext && (
        <button onClick={() => loadNext(10)}>Load More</​button>
      )}
    </​div>
  );
}

5. Pagination with Search

// SearchablePosts.jsx
const SearchablePostsFragment = graphql`
  fragment SearchablePosts_query on Query
  @refetchable(queryName: "SearchablePostsQuery")
  @argumentDefinitions(
    first: { type: "Int", defaultValue: 10 }
    after: { type: "String" }
    searchTerm: { type: "String" }
  ) {
    posts(first: $first, after: $after, searchTerm: $searchTerm)
    @connection(key: "SearchablePosts_posts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
      totalCount
    }
  }
`;

function SearchablePosts({ query }) {
  const [searchTerm, setSearchTerm] = useState('');
  const { data, loadNext, hasNext, refetch, isLoadingNext } =
    usePaginationFragment(SearchablePostsFragment, query);

  const handleSearch = (term) => {
    setSearchTerm(term);
    refetch({
      first: 10,
      after: null,
      searchTerm: term
    });
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <SearchInput
        value={searchTerm}
        onChange={handleSearch}
        placeholder="Search posts..."
      />

      <div>
        Showing {data.posts.edges.length} of {data.posts.totalCount} posts
      </​div>

      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}

      {hasNext && (
        <button onClick={() => loadNext(10)} disabled={isLoadingNext}>
          {isLoadingNext ? 'Loading...' : 'Load More'}
        </​button>
      )}
    </​div>
  );
}

6. Optimistic Pagination Updates

// OptimisticPaginationPosts.jsx
const CreatePostMutation = graphql`
  mutation OptimisticPaginationCreatePostMutation(
    $input: CreatePostInput!
    $connections: [ID!]!
  ) {
    createPost(input: $input) {
      postEdge @prependEdge(connections: $connections) {
        cursor
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
    }
  }
`;

function OptimisticPaginationPosts({ query }) {
  const { data } = usePaginationFragment(PostsFragment, query);
  const [commit] = useMutation(CreatePostMutation);

  const connectionID = ConnectionHandler.getConnectionID(
    'client:root',
    'Posts_posts'
  );

  const handleCreate = (title, body) => {
    commit({
      variables: {
        input: { title, body },
        connections: [connectionID]
      },

      optimisticResponse: {
        createPost: {
          postEdge: {
            cursor: 'temp-cursor',
            node: {
              id: `temp-${Date.now()}`,
              title,
              body,
              createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
              author: {
                id: currentUser.id,
                name: currentUser.name
              }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    });
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <CreatePostForm onSubmit={handleCreate} />
      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}
    </​div>
  );
}

7. Paginated Tabs

// TabbedPosts.jsx
const TabbedPostsFragment = graphql`
  fragment TabbedPosts_user on User
  @refetchable(queryName: "TabbedPostsQuery")
  @argumentDefinitions(
    draftsFirst: { type: "Int", defaultValue: 10 }
    draftsAfter: { type: "String" }
    publishedFirst: { type: "Int", defaultValue: 10 }
    publishedAfter: { type: "String" }
  ) {
    draftPosts: posts(
      first: $draftsFirst
      after: $draftsAfter
      status: DRAFT
    )
    @connection(key: "TabbedPosts_draftPosts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
    }

    publishedPosts: posts(
      first: $publishedFirst
      after: $publishedAfter
      status: PUBLISHED
    )
    @connection(key: "TabbedPosts_publishedPosts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
    }
  }
`;

function TabbedPosts({ user }) {
  const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState('published');
  const { data } = usePaginationFragment(TabbedPostsFragment, user);

  const posts =
    activeTab === 'draft' ? data.draftPosts : data.publishedPosts;

  return (
    <div>
      <Tabs value={activeTab} onChange={setActiveTab}>
        <Tab value="published">Published</​Tab>
        <Tab value="draft">Drafts</​Tab>
      </​Tabs>

      {posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}
    </​div>
  );
}

8. Virtual Scrolling with Pagination

// VirtualizedPosts.jsx
import { useVirtualizer } from '@tanstack/​react-virtual';
import { graphql, usePaginationFragment } from 'react-relay';

const VirtualizedPostsFragment = graphql`
  fragment VirtualizedPosts_query on Query
  @refetchable(queryName: "VirtualizedPostsQuery")
  @argumentDefinitions(
    first: { type: "Int", defaultValue: 50 }
    after: { type: "String" }
  ) {
    posts(first: $first, after: $after)
    @connection(key: "VirtualizedPosts_posts") {
      edges {
        node {
          id
          ...PostCard_post
        }
      }
    }
  }
`;

function VirtualizedPosts({ query }) {
  const { data, loadNext, hasNext, isLoadingNext } = usePaginationFragment(
    VirtualizedPostsFragment,
    query
  );

  const parentRef = useRef();
  const posts = data.posts.edges.map(e => e.node);

  const virtualizer = useVirtualizer({
    count: posts.length,
    getScrollElement: () => parentRef.current,
    estimateSize: () => 200,
    overscan: 5
  });

  useEffect(() => {
    const [lastItem] = [...virtualizer.getVirtualItems()].reverse();

    if (!lastItem) return;

    if (
      lastItem.index >= posts.length - 1 &&
      hasNext &&
      !isLoadingNext
    ) {
      loadNext(50);
    }
  }, [
    hasNext,
    loadNext,
    isLoadingNext,
    posts.length,
    virtualizer.getVirtualItems()
  ]);

  return (
    <div ref={parentRef} style={{ height: '600px', overflow: 'auto' }}>
      <div
        style={{
          height: `${virtualizer.getTotalSize()}px`,
          position: 'relative'
        }}
      >
        {virtualizer.getVirtualItems().map(virtualItem => (
          <div
            key={virtualItem.key}
            style={{
              position: 'absolute',
              top: 0,
              left: 0,
              width: '100%',
              transform: `translateY(${virtualItem.start}px)`
            }}
          >
            <PostCard post={posts[virtualItem.index]} />
          </​div>
        ))}
      </​div>
    </​div>
  );
}

9. Pagination State Management

// PaginationStateManager.jsx
function PaginationStateManager({ query }) {
  const {
    data,
    loadNext,
    hasNext,
    isLoadingNext,
    refetch
  } = usePaginationFragment(PostsFragment, query);

  const [paginationState, setPaginationState] = useState({
    currentPage: 1,
    itemsPerPage: 10,
    totalLoaded: 0
  });

  const handleLoadMore = () => {
    const itemsToLoad = paginationState.itemsPerPage;
    loadNext(itemsToLoad);

    setPaginationState(prev => ({
      ...prev,
      currentPage: prev.currentPage + 1,
      totalLoaded: prev.totalLoaded + itemsToLoad
    }));
  };

  const handleChangePageSize = (newSize) => {
    setPaginationState(prev => ({
      ...prev,
      itemsPerPage: newSize
    }));

    refetch({
      first: newSize,
      after: null
    });
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <div>
        Page {paginationState.currentPage} -
        Loaded {paginationState.totalLoaded} items
      </​div>

      <select
        value={paginationState.itemsPerPage}
        onChange={(e) => handleChangePageSize(Number(e.target.value))}
      >
        <option value={10}>10 per page</​option>
        <option value={25}>25 per page</​option>
        <option value={50}>50 per page</​option>
      </​select>

      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}

      {hasNext && (
        <button onClick={handleLoadMore} disabled={isLoadingNext}>
          Load More
        </​button>
      )}
    </​div>
  );
}

10. Custom Pagination Hook

// hooks/​usePagination.js
import { useState, useCallback } from 'react';
import { usePaginationFragment } from 'react-relay';

export function usePagination(fragment, fragmentRef, options = {}) {
  const {
    onLoadMore,
    onLoadPrevious,
    onRefetch,
    pageSize = 10
  } = options;

  const {
    data,
    loadNext,
    loadPrevious,
    hasNext,
    hasPrevious,
    isLoadingNext,
    isLoadingPrevious,
    refetch
  } = usePaginationFragment(fragment, fragmentRef);

  const [page, setPage] = useState(1);

  const handleLoadNext = useCallback(() => {
    loadNext(pageSize);
    setPage(p => p + 1);
    onLoadMore?.();
  }, [loadNext, pageSize, onLoadMore]);

  const handleLoadPrevious = useCallback(() => {
    loadPrevious(pageSize);
    setPage(p => Math.max(1, p - 1));
    onLoadPrevious?.();
  }, [loadPrevious, pageSize, onLoadPrevious]);

  const handleRefetch = useCallback((variables) => {
    refetch(variables);
    setPage(1);
    onRefetch?.();
  }, [refetch, onRefetch]);

  return {
    data,
    page,
    hasNext,
    hasPrevious,
    isLoadingNext,
    isLoadingPrevious,
    loadNext: handleLoadNext,
    loadPrevious: handleLoadPrevious,
    refetch: handleRefetch
  };
}

// Usage
function PostsList({ query }) {
  const {
    data,
    page,
    hasNext,
    loadNext,
    refetch
  } = usePagination(PostsFragment, query, {
    pageSize: 20,
    onLoadMore: () => console.log('Loaded more'),
    onRefetch: () => console.log('Refetched')
  });

  return (
    <div>
      <div>Page {page}</​div>
      <button onClick={() => refetch({ first: 20 })}>Refresh</​button>

      {data.posts.edges.map(({ node }) => (
        <PostCard key={node.id} post={node} />
      ))}

      {hasNext && <button onClick={loadNext}>Load More</​button>}
    </​div>
  );
}

Best Practices

1. Use @connection directive - Ensure proper cache updates
2. Implement loading states - Show feedback during pagination
3. Handle edge cases - Empty states, no more data
4. Optimize page size - Balance UX and performance
5. Use infinite scroll wisely - Consider virtual scrolling for large lists
6. Implement search/​filter - Allow users to narrow results
7. Cache pagination state - Preserve scroll position
8. Handle errors gracefully - Retry failed pagination requests
9. Test pagination thoroughly - Edge cases, network failures
10. Monitor performance - Track pagination metrics

Common Pitfalls

1. Missing @connection directive - Cache updates fail
2. Incorrect cursor management - Duplicate or missing items
3. No loading states - Poor user experience
4. Over-fetching - Requesting too many items per page
5. Memory leaks - Not cleaning up observers
6. Missing error handling - Failed requests break pagination
7. Inconsistent page sizes - Confusing user experience
8. Not handling empty states - Poor UX for no results
9. Race conditions - Multiple concurrent pagination requests
10. Missing accessibility - Keyboard navigation, screen readers

When to Use

• Displaying large lists of data
• Building infinite scroll interfaces
• Creating feed-based applications
• Implementing search results
• Building e-commerce product listings
• Creating social media timelines
• Developing comment threads
• Building admin dashboards
• Creating data tables
• Implementing file browsers

Resources

• Relay Pagination
• Connection Specification
• usePaginationFragment
• Cursor Connections
• Relay Examples