Tip
	In the MATCH clause, patterns are used a lot. Read Section 15.8, “Patterns” for an introduction.

The following graph is used for the examples below:

Graph

The symbol -- means related to, without regard to type or direction.

Query

START n=node(3)
MATCH (n)--(x)
RETURN x

All nodes related to A (Anders) are returned by the query.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start n=node(3) match (n)--(x) return x

When the direction of a relationship is interesting, it is shown by using --> or <--, like this:

Query

START n=node(3)
MATCH (n)-->(x)
RETURN x

All nodes that A has outgoing relationships to are returned.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start n=node(3) match (n)-->(x) return x

If an identifier is needed, either for filtering on properties of the relationship, or to return the relationship, this is how you introduce the identifier.

Query

START n=node(3)
MATCH (n)-[r]->()
RETURN r

The query returns all outgoing relationships from node A.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start n=node(3) match (n)-[r]->() return r

When you know the relationship type you want to match on, you can specify it by using a colon together with the relationship type.

Query

START n=node(3)
MATCH (n)-[:BLOCKS]->(x)
RETURN x

All nodes that are BLOCKed by A are returned by this query.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start n=node(3) match (n)-[:BLOCKS]->(x) return x

To match on one of multiple types, you can specify this by chaining them together with the pipe symbol |.

Query

START n=node(3)
MATCH (n)-[:BLOCKS|KNOWS]->(x)
RETURN x

All nodes with a BLOCK or KNOWS relationship to A are returned.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start n=node(3) match (n)-[:BLOCKS|KNOWS]->(x) return x

If you both want to introduce an identifier to hold the relationship, and specify the relationship type you want, just add them both, like this.

Query

START n=node(3)
MATCH (n)-[r:BLOCKS]->()
RETURN r

All BLOCKS relationships going out from A are returned.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start n=node(3) match (n)-[r:BLOCKS]->() return r

Sometime your database will have types with non-letter characters, or with spaces in them. Use ` (backtick) to quote these.

Query

START n=node(3)
MATCH (n)-[r:`TYPE THAT HAS SPACE IN IT`]->()
RETURN r

This query returns a relationship of a type with spaces in it.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (3)-[:TYPE THAT HAS SPACE IN IT]->(3) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start n=node(3) match (n)-[r:`TYPE THAT HAS SPACE IN IT`]->() return r

Relationships can be expressed by using multiple statements in the form of ()--(), or they can be strung together, like this:

Query

START a=node(3)
MATCH (a)-[:KNOWS]->(b)-[:KNOWS]->(c)
RETURN a,b,c

The three nodes in the path are returned by the query.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3) match (a)-[:KNOWS]->(b)-[:KNOWS]->(c) return a,b,c

Nodes that are a variable number of relationship→node hops away can be found using the following syntax: -[:TYPE*minHops..maxHops]->. minHops and maxHops are optional and default to 1 and infinity respectively. When no bounds are given the dots may be omitted.

Query

START a=node(3), x=node(2, 4)
MATCH a-[:KNOWS*1..3]->x
RETURN a,x

This query returns the start and end point, if there is a path between 1 and 3 relationships away.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3), x=node(2, 4) match a-[:KNOWS*1..3]->x return a,x

When the connection between two nodes is of variable length, a relationship identifier becomes an collection of relationships.

Query

START a=node(3), x=node(2, 4)
MATCH a-[r:KNOWS*1..3]->x
RETURN r

The query returns the relationships, if there is a path between 1 and 3 relationships away.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3), x=node(2, 4) match a-[r:KNOWS*1..3]->x return r

Using variable length paths that have the lower bound zero means that two identifiers can point to the same node. If the distance between two nodes is zero, they are by definition the same node.

Query

START a=node(3)
MATCH p1=a-[:KNOWS*0..1]->b, p2=b-[:BLOCKS*0..1]->c
RETURN a,b,c, length(p1), length(p2)

This query will return four paths, some of which have length zero.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3) match p1=a-[:KNOWS*0..1]->b, p2=b-[:BLOCKS*0..1]->c return a,b,c, length(p1), length(p2)

If a relationship is optional, it can be marked with a question mark. This is similar to how a SQL outer join works. If the relationship is there, it is returned. If it’s not, null is returned in it’s place. Remember that anything hanging off an optional relationship, is in turn optional, unless it is connected with a bound node through some other path.

Query

START a=node(2)
MATCH a-[?]->x
RETURN a,x

A node, and null are returned, since the node has no outgoing relationships.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(2) match a-[?]->x return a,x

Just as with a normal relationship, you can decide which identifier it goes into, and what relationship type you need.

Query

START a=node(3)
MATCH a-[r?:LOVES]->()
RETURN a,r

This returns a node, and null, since the node has no outgoing LOVES relationships.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3) match a-[r?:LOVES]->() return a,r

Returning a property from an optional element that is null will also return null.

Query

START a=node(2)
MATCH a-[?]->x
RETURN x, x.name

This returns the element x (null in this query), and null as it’s name.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(2) match a-[?]->x return x, x.name

Using Cypher, you can also express more complex patterns to match on, like a diamond shape pattern.

Query

START a=node(3)
MATCH (a)-[:KNOWS]->(b)-[:KNOWS]->(c), (a)-[:BLOCKS]-(d)-[:KNOWS]-(c)
RETURN a,b,c,d

This returns the four nodes in the paths.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3) match (a)-[:KNOWS]->(b)-[:KNOWS]->(c), (a)-[:BLOCKS]-(d)-[:KNOWS]-(c) return a,b,c,d

Finding a single shortest path between two nodes is as easy as using the shortestPath function. It’s done like this:

Query

START d=node(1), e=node(2)
MATCH p = shortestPath( d-[*..15]->e )
RETURN p

This means: find a single shortest path between two nodes, as long as the path is max 15 relationships long. Inside of the parenthesis you define a single link of a path — the starting node, the connecting relationship and the end node. Characteristics describing the relationship like relationship type, max hops and direction are all used when finding the shortest path. You can also mark the path as optional.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start d=node(1), e=node(2) match p = shortestPath( d-[*..15]->e ) return p

Finds all the shortest paths between two nodes.

Query

START d=node(1), e=node(2)
MATCH p = allShortestPaths( d-[*..15]->e )
RETURN p

This example will find the two directed paths between David and Emil.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start d=node(1), e=node(2) match p = allShortestPaths( d-[*..15]->e ) return p

If you want to return or filter on a path in your pattern graph, you can a introduce a named path.

Query

START a=node(3)
MATCH p = a-->b
RETURN p

This returns the two paths starting from the first node.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3) match p = a-->b return p

When your pattern contains a bound relationship, and that relationship pattern doesn’t specify direction, Cypher will try to match the relationship where the connected nodes switch sides.

Query

START r=rel(0)
MATCH a-[r]-b
RETURN a,b

This returns the two connected nodes, once as the start node, and once as the end node.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start r=rel(0) match a-[r]-b return a,b

Strictly speaking, you can’t do OR in your MATCH. It’s still possible to form a query that works a lot like OR.

Query

START a=node(3), b=node(2)
MATCH a-[?:KNOWS]-x-[?:KNOWS]-b
RETURN x

This query is saying: give me the nodes that are connected to a, or b, or both.

Try this query live. (1) {"name":"David"} (2) {"name":"Emil"} (3) {"name":"Anders"} (4) {"name":"Bossman"} (5) {"name":"Cesar"} (1)-[:KNOWS]->(3) {} (3)-[:KNOWS]->(4) {} (3)-[:BLOCKS]->(5) {} (4)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} (4)-[:BLOCKS]->(1) {} (5)-[:KNOWS]->(2) {} start a=node(3), b=node(2) match a-[?:KNOWS]-x-[?:KNOWS]-b return x