Error extensions

To quote the graphql-spec:

GraphQL services may provide an additional entry to errors with key extensions. This entry, if set, must have a map as its value. This entry is reserved for implementer to add additional information to errors however they see fit, and there are no additional restrictions on its contents.

Example

I would recommend on checking out this async-graphql example as a quickstart.

In async-graphql all user-facing errors are cast to the Error type which by default provides the error message exposed by std::fmt::Display. However, Error actually provides an additional information that can extend the error.

A resolver looks like this:

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
extern crate async_graphql;
use async_graphql::*;
struct Query;
#[Object]
impl Query {
async fn parse_with_extensions(&self) -> Result<i32, Error> {
    Err(Error::new("MyMessage").extend_with(|_, e| e.set("details", "CAN_NOT_FETCH")))
}
}
}

may then return a response like this:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "message": "MyMessage",
      "locations": [ ... ],
      "path": [ ... ],
      "extensions": {
        "details": "CAN_NOT_FETCH",
      }
    }
  ]
}

ErrorExtensions

Constructing new Errors by hand quickly becomes tedious. That is why async-graphql provides two convenience traits for casting your errors to the appropriate Error with extensions.

The easiest way to provide extensions to any error is by calling extend_with on the error. This will on the fly convert any error into a Error with the given extension.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
extern crate async_graphql;
use async_graphql::*;
struct Query;
use std::num::ParseIntError;
#[Object]
impl Query {
async fn parse_with_extensions(&self) -> Result<i32> {
     Ok("234a"
         .parse()
         .map_err(|err: ParseIntError| err.extend_with(|_err, e| e.set("code", 404)))?)
}
}
}

Implementing ErrorExtensions for custom errors.

If you find yourself attaching extensions to your errors all over the place you might want to consider implementing the trait on your custom error type directly.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
extern crate async_graphql;
extern crate thiserror;
use async_graphql::*;
#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
pub enum MyError {
    #[error("Could not find resource")]
    NotFound,

    #[error("ServerError")]
    ServerError(String),

    #[error("No Extensions")]
    ErrorWithoutExtensions,
}

impl ErrorExtensions for MyError {
    // lets define our base extensions
    fn extend(&self) -> Error {
        Error::new(format!("{}", self)).extend_with(|err, e| 
            match self {
              MyError::NotFound => e.set("code", "NOT_FOUND"),
              MyError::ServerError(reason) => e.set("reason", reason.clone()),
              MyError::ErrorWithoutExtensions => {}
          })
    }
}
}

This way you only need to call extend on your error to deliver the error message alongside the provided extensions. Or further extend your error through extend_with.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
extern crate async_graphql;
extern crate thiserror;
use async_graphql::*;
#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
pub enum MyError {
    #[error("Could not find resource")]
    NotFound,

    #[error("ServerError")]
    ServerError(String),

    #[error("No Extensions")]
    ErrorWithoutExtensions,
}
struct Query;
#[Object]
impl Query {
async fn parse_with_extensions_result(&self) -> Result<i32> {
    // Err(MyError::NotFound.extend())
    // OR
    Err(MyError::NotFound.extend_with(|_, e| e.set("on_the_fly", "some_more_info")))
}
}
}

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "message": "NotFound",
      "locations": [ ... ],
      "path": [ ... ],
      "extensions": {
        "code": "NOT_FOUND",
        "on_the_fly": "some_more_info"
      }
    }
  ]
}

ResultExt

This trait enables you to call extend_err directly on results. So the above code becomes less verbose.

// @todo figure out why this example does not compile!
extern crate async_graphql;
use async_graphql::*;
struct Query;
#[Object]
impl Query {
async fn parse_with_extensions(&self) -> Result<i32> {
     Ok("234a"
         .parse()
         .extend_err(|_, e| e.set("code", 404))?)
}
}

Chained extensions

Since ErrorExtensions and ResultExt are implemented for any type &E where E: std::fmt::Display we can chain the extension together.

#![allow(unused)]
fn main() {
extern crate async_graphql;
use async_graphql::*;
struct Query;
#[Object]
impl Query {
async fn parse_with_extensions(&self) -> Result<i32> {
    match "234a".parse() {
        Ok(n) => Ok(n),
        Err(e) => Err(e
            .extend_with(|_, e| e.set("code", 404))
            .extend_with(|_, e| e.set("details", "some more info.."))
            // keys may also overwrite previous keys...
            .extend_with(|_, e| e.set("code", 500))),
    }
}
}
}

Expected response:

{
  "errors": [
    {
      "message": "MyMessage",
      "locations": [ ... ],
      "path": [ ... ],
      "extensions": {
      	"details": "some more info...",
        "code": 500,
      }
    }
  ]
}

Pitfalls

Rust does not provide stable trait specialization yet. That is why ErrorExtensions is actually implemented for &E where E: std::fmt::Display instead of E: std::fmt::Display. Some specialization is provided through Autoref-based stable specialization. The disadvantage is that the below code does NOT compile:

async fn parse_with_extensions_result(&self) -> Result<i32> {
    // the trait `error::ErrorExtensions` is not implemented
    // for `std::num::ParseIntError`
    "234a".parse().extend_err(|_, e| e.set("code", 404))
}

however this does:

async fn parse_with_extensions_result(&self) -> Result<i32> {
    // does work because ErrorExtensions is implemented for &ParseIntError
    "234a"
      .parse()
      .map_err(|ref e: ParseIntError| e.extend_with(|_, e| e.set("code", 404)))
}

Async-graphql Book