9.1. Return
In the RETURN
part of your query, you define which parts of the pattern you are
interested in. It can be nodes, relationships, or properties on these.
Return nodes
To return a node, list it in the RETURN
statement.
Query.
MATCH (n { name: "B" }) RETURN n
The example will return the node.
Result
n |
---|
1 row |
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (n {name: "B"}) return n
Return relationships
To return a relationship, just include it in the RETURN
list.
Query.
MATCH (n { name: "A" })-[r:KNOWS]->(c) RETURN r
The relationship is returned by the example.
Result
r |
---|
1 row |
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (n {name: "A"})-[r:KNOWS]->(c) return r
Return property
To return a property, use the dot separator, like this:
Query.
MATCH (n { name: "A" }) RETURN n.name
The value of the property name
gets returned.
Result
n.name |
---|
1 row |
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (n {name: "A"}) return n.name
Return all elements
When you want to return all nodes, relationships and paths found in a query, you can use the *
symbol.
Query.
MATCH p=(a { name: "A" })-[r]->(b) RETURN *
This returns the two nodes, the relationship and the path used in the query.
Result
b | a | r | p |
---|---|---|---|
2 rows | |||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match p=(a {name: "A"})-[r]->(b) return *
Identifier with uncommon characters
To introduce a placeholder that is made up of characters that are
outside of the english alphabet, you can use the `
to enclose the identifier, like this:
Query.
MATCH (`This isn't a common identifier`) WHERE `This isn't a common identifier`.name='A' RETURN `This isn't a common identifier`.happy
The node with name "A" is returned
Result
`This isn't a common identifier`.happy |
---|
1 row |
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (`This isn't a common identifier`) where `This isn't a common identifier`.name='A' return `This isn't a common identifier`.happy
Column alias
If the name of the column should be different from the expression used, you can rename it by using AS
<new name>.
Query.
MATCH (a { name: "A" }) RETURN a.age AS SomethingTotallyDifferent
Returns the age property of a node, but renames the column.
Result
SomethingTotallyDifferent |
---|
1 row |
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (a {name: "A"}) return a.age AS SomethingTotallyDifferent
Optional properties
If a property might or might not be there, you can still select it as usual. It will be treated as NULL
if it is missing
Query.
MATCH (n) RETURN n.age
This example returns the age when the node has that property, or null
if the property is not there.
Result
n.age |
---|
2 rows |
|
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (n) return n.age
Other expressions
Any expression can be used as a return item — literals, predicates, properties, functions, and everything else.
Query.
MATCH (a { name: "A" }) RETURN a.age > 30, "I'm a literal",(a)-->()
Returns a predicate, a literal and function call with a pattern expression parameter.
Result
a.age > 30 | "I'm a literal" | (a)-->() |
---|---|---|
1 row | ||
|
|
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (a {name: "A"}) return a.age > 30, "I'm a literal", (a)-->()
Unique results
DISTINCT
retrieves only unique rows depending on the columns that have been selected to output.
Query.
MATCH (a { name: "A" })-->(b) RETURN DISTINCT b
The node named B is returned by the query, but only once.
Result
b |
---|
1 row |
|
Try this query live. create (_0 {`age`:55, `happy`:"Yes!", `name`:"A"}) create (_1 {`name`:"B"}) create _0-[:`KNOWS`]->_1 create _0-[:`BLOCKS`]->_1 match (a {name: "A"})-->(b) return distinct b