13.1. Create

13.1.1. Create single node
13.1.2. Return created node
13.1.3. Create single node and set properties
13.1.4. Create a relationship between two nodes
13.1.5. Create a relationship and set properties
13.1.6. Create a full path
13.1.7. Create single node from map
13.1.8. Create multiple nodes from maps

Creating graph elements — nodes and relationships, is done with CREATE.

[Tip]Tip

In the CREATE clause, patterns are used a lot. Read Section 11.5, “Patterns” for an introduction.

13.1.1. Create single node

Creating a single node is done by issuing the following query.

Query. 

CREATE n

Nothing is returned from this query, except the count of affected nodes.

Result

Nodes created: 1

(empty result)


Try this query live. (0) create n

13.1.2. Return created node

Creating a single node is done by issuing the following query.

Query. 

CREATE (a {name : 'Andres'})
RETURN a

The newly created node is returned.

Result

a
1 row
Nodes created: 1
Properties set: 1

Node[2]{name:"Andres"}


Try this query live. (0) create (a {name : 'Andres'}) return a

13.1.3. Create single node and set properties

The values for the properties can be any scalar expressions.

[Caution]Caution

This syntax has been deprecated, please use the one in Section 13.1.2, “Return created node”.

Query. 

CREATE n = {name : 'Andres', title : 'Developer'}

Nothing is returned from this query.

Result

Nodes created: 1
Properties set: 2

(empty result)


Try this query live. (0) create n = {name : 'Andres', title : 'Developer'}

13.1.4. Create a relationship between two nodes

To create a relationship between two nodes, we first get the two nodes. Once the nodes are loaded, we simply create a relationship between them.

Query. 

START a=node(1), b=node(2)
CREATE a-[r:RELTYPE]->b
RETURN r

The created relationship is returned by the query.

Result

r
1 row
Relationships created: 1

:RELTYPE[1] {}


Try this query live. (1) {} (2) {} start a=node(1), b=node(2) create a-[r:RELTYPE]->b return r

13.1.5. Create a relationship and set properties

Setting properties on relationships is done in a similar manner to how it’s done when creating nodes. Note that the values can be any expression.

Query. 

START a=node(1), b=node(2)
CREATE a-[r:RELTYPE {name : a.name + '<->' + b.name }]->b
RETURN r

The newly created relationship is returned by the example query.

Result

r
1 row
Relationships created: 1
Properties set: 1

:RELTYPE[1] {name:"Andres<->Michael"}


Try this query live. (1) {"name":"Andres"} (2) {"name":"Michael"} start a=node(1), b=node(2) create a-[r:RELTYPE {name : a.name + '<->' + b.name }]->b return r

13.1.6. Create a full path

When you use CREATE and a pattern, all parts of the pattern that are not already in scope at this time will be created.

Query. 

CREATE p = (andres {name:'Andres'})-[:WORKS_AT]->neo<-[:WORKS_AT]-(michael {name:'Michael'})
RETURN p

This query creates three nodes and two relationships in one go, assigns it to a path identifier, and returns it.

Result

p
1 row
Nodes created: 3
Relationships created: 2
Properties set: 2

[Node[4]{name:"Andres"},:WORKS_AT[2] {},Node[5]{},:WORKS_AT[3] {},Node[6]{name:"Michael"}]


Try this query live. (0) create p = (andres {name:'Andres'})-[:WORKS_AT]->neo<-[:WORKS_AT]-(michael {name:'Michael'}) return p

13.1.7. Create single node from map

You can also create a graph entity from a Map<String,Object> map. All the key/value pairs in the map will be set as properties on the created relationship or node.

Query. 

create ({props})

This query can be used in the following fashion:

Map<String, Object> props = new HashMap<String, Object>();
props.put( "name", "Andres" );
props.put( "position", "Developer" );

Map<String, Object> params = new HashMap<String, Object>();
params.put( "props", props );
engine.execute( "create ({props})", params );

13.1.8. Create multiple nodes from maps

By providing an iterable of maps (Iterable<Map<String,Object>>), Cypher will create a node for each map in the iterable. When you do this, you can’t create anything else in the same create statement.

Query. 

create (n {props}) return n

This query can be used in the following fashion:

Map<String, Object> n1 = new HashMap<String, Object>();
n1.put( "name", "Andres" );
n1.put( "position", "Developer" );

Map<String, Object> n2 = new HashMap<String, Object>();
n2.put( "name", "Michael" );
n2.put( "position", "Developer" );

Map<String, Object> params = new HashMap<String, Object>();
List<Map<String, Object>> maps = Arrays.asList( n1, n2 );
params.put( "props", maps );
engine.execute( "create (n {props}) return n", params );