Delivering Sitecore Headless Content Seamlessly with Azure Functions and GraphQL

In the age of composable architecture and API-first digital experiences, delivering content dynamically and efficiently is crucial. In this blog post, I will walk you through how we can integrate Sitecore Headless with Azure Functions using GraphQL to build a modern, scalable content API for frontend applications.

Sitecore Headless (JSS) allows us to decouple the presentation layer and use modern frameworks like React or Angular.

Azure Functions provide a lightweight, cost-effective, and scalable way to run backend logic without provisioning servers.

GraphQL enables efficient and flexible querying of Sitecore content, avoiding over-fetching or under-fetching.

Together, these technologies enable fast, secure, and flexible content delivery.

Prerequisites

  • Sitecore instance with Headless Services module installed
  • GraphQL endpoint is enabled
  • Sitecore item exists and is published
  • The Azure Function has access to the Sitecore CD environment (via public/private endpoint)
  • API Key configured for GraphQL access

For creating the Azure Function project and configuring settings, please refer my previous blog here.

Set up Environment Variables

Add Sitecore Host, API Key and GraphQL endpoint to local.settings.json file

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Azure Function as API Proxy

Create an HTTP-triggered Azure Function to read the Sitecore item via GraphQL query

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Call the Azure function proxy API to get details in the Frontend application

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Benefits

  • Decoupled Architecture: Frontend and backend evolve independently.
  • Scalability: Azure Functions scale automatically with traffic.
  • Security: Keeps Sitecore behind the firewall — Azure Functions expose only what’s needed.
  • Flexibility: GraphQL allows precise querying and reduces payload size.

Use Case: Real-Time Content API for Product Pages

Building a product detail page for a Progressive Web App using Angular or React, powered by Sitecore Headless CMS for content. The product detail page needs real-time marketing content (like banners, specifications, offers, and localized descriptions) that lives in Sitecore. The frontend requests this data dynamically via an Azure Function that queries Sitecore using GraphQL.

This integration empowers developers to build rich, personalized, and fast digital experiences using Sitecore's content capabilities, all while leveraging modern serverless and headless principles.

If you're working with Sitecore and want to modernize your delivery stack, combining Azure Functions with GraphQL and Headless JSS is a powerful approach.

Stay Tuned!

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