# Keeping Backend APIs Datamodels and SDL Graph Data Model in sync

**URL:** <https://community.apollographql.com/t/keeping-backend-apis-datamodels-and-sdl-graph-data-model-in-sync/8728>\
**Category:** API Design, Strategy & Governance\
**Created:** [March 19, 2025, 5:39am UTC](https://community.apollographql.com/t/keeping-backend-apis-datamodels-and-sdl-graph-data-model-in-sync/8728 "2025-03-19T05:39:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![souvik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@souvik](https://community.apollographql.com/u/souvik)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 5:39am UTC](https://community.apollographql.com/t/keeping-backend-apis-datamodels-and-sdl-graph-data-model-in-sync/8728/1 "2025-03-19T05:39:43Z")

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Hi Team,

We have a two tier architecture with Supergraph served by Subgraphs integrating into REST APIs. We are not planning to use connectors for the time being. We want to keep the backend swagger’s data model to the GraphQL Schema / SDL in sync. Has someone used any particular approach to solve for this problem?

Cheers,  
SM

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**Author:** ![Dan\_Boerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.apollographql.com/dan_boerner/32/5748_2.png) [@Dan\_Boerner](https://community.apollographql.com/u/Dan_Boerner)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.apollographql.com/t/keeping-backend-apis-datamodels-and-sdl-graph-data-model-in-sync/8728/2 "2025-04-04T17:24:02Z")

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Hi @souvik can you perhaps share an example of how tightly you want to keep your REST and Graph APIs in sync?

I ask because we often see advantages to adjust the naming and even the shape of data exposed at the graph tier from the lower level REST api naming/shape. This is why Connectors come with transforms to allow you to rename fields.

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**Author:** ![souvik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@souvik](https://community.apollographql.com/u/souvik)\
**Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.apollographql.com/t/keeping-backend-apis-datamodels-and-sdl-graph-data-model-in-sync/8728/3 "2025-04-04T21:04:10Z")

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Hi Dan,

Given we are adopting an industry data model, the nomenclature/ taxonomy will remain same across graphs and REST. For the rest, if we have custom data models, I am not worried about the end to end keeping this in sync. Good question, thanks for the clarifying ask

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**Author:** ![Dan\_Boerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.apollographql.com/dan_boerner/32/5748_2.png) [@Dan\_Boerner](https://community.apollographql.com/u/Dan_Boerner)\
**Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.apollographql.com/t/keeping-backend-apis-datamodels-and-sdl-graph-data-model-in-sync/8728/4 "2025-04-08T16:39:57Z")

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Ahh, that makes sense. I haven’t heard others come up with an automated way to do what you are asking. Do the changes originate from the REST side?