Headless WordPress with WPGraphQL: A Step-by-Step Guide for Vue Developers

Usman
November 20, 2025

Headless WordPress has become a practical choice for teams building modern interfaces with frameworks like Vue. Decoupling the frontend gives developers more freedom in routing, state management, component architecture, and deployment. At the same time, WordPress continues to serve as a familiar and stable content system for editors.

At Arhpez Technologies, we build headless solutions through our WordPress development services that integrate WPGraphQL with modern frontend frameworks. This guide walks through the complete setup, explains how WPGraphQL works, and shows Vue developers how to create a predictable headless environment backed by a reliable API.

What Is Headless WordPress

Headless WordPress separates the presentation layer from the WordPress backend. WordPress stores posts, pages, media, menus, metadata, taxonomies, and custom fields. The frontend is built with a JavaScript framework such as Vue, Nuxt, or Vite powered Vue. The frontend retrieves data through APIs instead of relying on traditional PHP themes.

Why WPGraphQL Instead of REST

WPGraphQL provides a structured schema that ensures predictable queries and avoids underfetching or overfetching. The REST API often requires multiple requests for related data. WPGraphQL provides nested fields in one query. This helps Vue developers manage state and caching more cleanly.

Step 1: Prepare the WordPress Backend

Start with a clean WordPress installation. The next steps create the foundation for a headless setup.

Install WPGraphQL
Go to Plugins
Install WPGraphQL
Activate the plugin

Once activated, WordPress exposes a GraphQL endpoint at:

/graphql

Configure Permalinks

Set permalinks to Post Name for a stable API structure.

Optional Addons

These plugins are commonly used with headless projects.

WPGraphQL for Advanced Custom Fields
WPGraphQL Yoast SEO
WPGraphQL JWT Authentication

These addons help expose metadata, custom fields, and SEO values to the frontend.

Step 2: Plan the Backend Data Structure

Vue applications rely on consistent schemas. We typically define:

Post types
Taxonomies
Custom fields
Menus
SEO metadata

Plan the API structure before writing Vue components. This reduces rework during integration.

Example: GraphQL Query for Posts

query GetPosts {
posts {
nodes {
id
title
slug
date
featuredImage {
node {
sourceUrl
}
}
}
}
}

This retrieves titles, dates, images, and slugs in a single request.

Step 3: Create the Vue Project

A typical tech stack for Vue headless builds includes:

Vue 3
Vite
Pinia or Vuex for state
Vue Router
Apollo Client for GraphQL

Create Project

npm init vue@latest headless-wp
cd headless-wp
npm install

Install Apollo Client

npm install @apollo/client graphql

Step 4: Configure Apollo Client in Vue

Create a file named apollo.js.

import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache } from “@apollo/client”;

const client = new ApolloClient({
uri: “https://yourdomain.com/graphql”,
cache: new InMemoryCache()
});

export default client;

Integrate it with your main.js file.

import { createApp } from ‘vue’;
import App from ‘./App.vue’;
import client from ‘./apollo.js’;
import { DefaultApolloClient } from ‘@vue/apollo-composable’;

const app = createApp(App);

app.provide(DefaultApolloClient, client);
app.mount(‘#app’);

Step 5: Fetch WordPress Data in Vue

Create a component that displays posts.

import { useQuery, gql } from ‘@vue/apollo-composable’;

const GET_POSTS = gql`
query GetPosts {
posts {
nodes {
id
title
slug
}
}
}
`;

export default {
setup() {
const { result, loading, error } = useQuery(GET_POSTS);
return { result, loading, error };
}
};

Use the data in your template.

<template>
<div v-if=“loading”>Loading…</div>
<div v-else>
<div v-for=“post in result.posts.nodes” :key=“post.id”>
<h2>{{ post.title }}</h2>
</div>
</div>
</template>

Step 6: Handle Routing for Pages and Posts

A headless site requires custom routes for dynamic pages.

Vue Router Configuration

const routes = [
{ path: ‘/’, component: Home },
{ path: ‘/:slug’, component: SinglePage }
];

Single Page Query

query GetPage($slug: String!) {
pageBy(uri: $slug) {
title
content
featuredImage {
node {
sourceUrl
}
}
}
}

Step 7: Manage SEO Data

Install WPGraphQL Yoast SEO to expose SEO fields through GraphQL.

Example query:

seo {
title
metaDesc
}

Vue can inject these values into <head> using vue-meta or Nuxt’s built-in head management when using Nuxt.

Step 8: Authentication for Protected Content

Install WPGraphQL JWT Authentication.

Vue must send a token with protected queries.

headers: {
Authorization: `Bearer ${token}`
}

This is useful for dashboards, member areas, or editorial tools.

Step 9: Deployment Strategy

Vue builds are static by default, and WordPress remains on a traditional PHP host.

Typical setup we use at Arhpez Technologies:

Vue hosted on Netlify or Vercel
WordPress hosted on a managed server
Cache and CDN layers for media and GraphQL responses

CI/CD can be added to automate builds whenever WordPress content updates.

Best Practices for a Stable Headless Stack

Plan content models early
Use caching strategies for GraphQL queries
Monitor API response times
Keep WPGraphQL updated
Avoid unnecessary plugins
Follow consistent naming for ACF fields
Test for large queries

Vue applications respond well to structured and predictable APIs, making WPGraphQL a dependable choice for long-term scalability.

Conclusion

Headless WordPress with WPGraphQL gives Vue developers a predictable and flexible foundation for building modern interfaces backed by a stable content system. A structured GraphQL schema, clean data fetching, and a fully decoupled frontend allow teams to create faster sites with better control over component architecture and routing. At Arhpez Technologies, we support these architectures through our WordPress development services, helping teams build reliable headless platforms that encourage long-term growth, smoother content operations, and strong technical performance. This setup works well for businesses that want a scalable content workflow supported by a fast and maintainable Vue application. If you want to build a stable headless solution that connects WordPress with a modern Vue frontend, reach out to our team to begin your project.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the benefit of using WPGraphQL for a headless WordPress site?

WPGraphQL provides structured queries and predictable schemas that reduce the number of requests needed to fetch content. It works smoothly with Vue, Apollo Client, and modern frontend workflows.

Is Vue suitable for headless WordPress projects?

Vue is a strong fit because it offers a component-based structure, flexible state management, and fast build tools. It also integrates well with GraphQL clients used in headless development.

What is the difference between WPGraphQL and the REST API in WordPress?

The REST API returns fixed responses that often require several separate requests. WPGraphQL returns nested fields in one query, which helps reduce API calls and improves frontend performance.

What tools do Vue developers need for a headless WordPress build?

The common tools include Vue 3, Vite, Apollo Client, Vue Router, and Pinia or Vuex. These create a reliable environment for consuming GraphQL data.

Can WPGraphQL expose custom fields created in ACF?

Yes. WPGraphQL for Advanced Custom Fields allows Vue developers to fetch custom content structures without additional plugins or manual API coding.

How does SEO work in a headless WordPress website?

WPGraphQL Yoast SEO exposes all SEO fields to Vue. These values can be injected into the page head during rendering. This ensures proper indexing and metadata updates even in a decoupled setup.