The Graph's Hosted Service: Overview
The Graph's hosted service was the original method for developers to access blockchain data using The Graph protocol. It provided a centralized infrastructure where developer teams could build, deploy, and manage "subgraphs"—custom APIs that index and organize blockchain data for use in applications.
Key Features
- Centralized Node Infrastructure: Developers relied on The Graph team's centralized servers, rather than running their own nodes.
- Accessible Subgraphs: Teams could quickly spin up and utilize subgraphs for decentralized applications (dApps) without the complexity of managing their own back-end infrastructure.
- Support for Multiple Networks: The hosted service offered subgraph support for several applications and blockchain networks, available for free.
Transition to Decentralization
As The Graph protocol evolved, the project introduced a decentralized network where subgraphs are registered and accessed through an open, decentralized system (on Ethereum, Arbitrum, etc.). The decentralized network aims to replace the hosted service entirely, phasing it out in multiple stages. As of April 2024, the hosted service continued operating—with the project team transitioning supported applications to the decentralized network over time.