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Microsoft 365

What is Microsoft Graph?

By Suresh Girinathuni

Quick answer

Microsoft Graph is Microsoft’s unified API platform for Microsoft 365 and Entra ID data. Instead of separate APIs per workload, developers call Graph resources — users, groups, sites, drives, chats, messages, events — through consistent REST endpoints and SDKs. It powers custom apps, reporting scripts, migration validation, and integrations such as SPFx components and Power Automate HTTP calls.

Key takeaways

  • One API model across Microsoft 365 and Entra ID resources.
  • Delegated vs application permissions with admin consent.
  • Least privilege, throttling, and pagination for real workloads.

Detailed Explanation

Microsoft Graph is Microsoft’s unified API platform for Microsoft 365 and Entra ID data. Instead of separate APIs per workload, developers call Graph resources — users, groups, sites, drives, chats, messages, events — through consistent REST endpoints and SDKs. It powers custom apps, reporting scripts, migration validation, and integrations such as SPFx components and Power Automate HTTP calls.

How it works

Register an app in Entra ID, request least-privilege permissions (delegated for user context, application for background services), complete admin consent, then call endpoints with OAuth tokens. Permissions, not code, decide what the app can touch.

Limitations and considerations

Over-permissioned apps are a security incident waiting to happen — consent grants need review like admin roles. Throttling, pagination, and delta-query patterns matter for any non-trivial reporting or migration script.

For broader context, see the Microsoft 365 Hub — it collects the guides around this topic.

When to use it

Reach for Graph for cross-workload reads, provisioning automation, inventory and validation scripts, and custom integrations where connectors fall short.

Practical example

A migration team uses Graph with application permissions to enumerate every SharePoint site, library count, and owner — feeding the assessment report no manual survey could produce.

Related Questions

What is Microsoft Entra ID?Microsoft Entra ID — the renamed Azure Active Directory — is Microsoft’s cloud identity service: it signs users into Microsoft 365 and connected apps and enforces access with Conditional Access, MFA, and role controls.What is SPFx?SPFx (SharePoint Framework) is Microsoft’s client-side development model for extending SharePoint, Teams, and Viva Connections with modern web technologies such as TypeScript and React.Can Power Automate call REST APIs?Yes — prefer a purpose-built connector first, use the HTTP action for direct REST calls, and package repeated integrations as custom connectors. Authenticate with Entra ID identities and handle errors explicitly.What is Microsoft 365?Microsoft 365 is Microsoft’s cloud productivity platform — Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange Online, and Microsoft 365 Apps — combined with identity (Entra ID), security, compliance, and administration.

Related nxtM365 Guides

Microsoft 365Microsoft Graph API Explained for BeginnersA beginner-friendly Microsoft Graph API guide explaining what Graph is, how requests work, permissions, tokens, endpoints, common use cases, and safe API design.MigrationSharePoint Migration Validation Using Python GuideLearn how to validate a SharePoint migration with Python checks for files, folders, metadata, permissions, versions, data integrity, exception reports, and business sign-off.

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