High Performance and Robust Graph Database using Neo4j

Overview

Neo4j is designed to handle, store effectively, and query highly linked data in your data model. Your real-world, variably structured information can be represented using a robust and adaptable data model without sacrificing its richness.

What is Graph Database?

Data is represented and stored using graph databases, which use graph structures containing nodes, edges, and properties. The graph connects data points to an arrangement of nodes and edges, where edges signify connections between nodes. The purpose of a graph database is to treat the relations between the data as significant as the data itself.

Why Graph Database?

Rows and columns store data in relational databases with a structure modeled like a ledger. The foreign key constraint describes the relationship between the two tables. The numerous joins and normalization steps result in data redundancy, which becomes complicated when there is an indirect relationship between large amounts of data.

Graph databases become more potent when linkages between data elements are much more significant.

Properties of Graph Model

• Nodes – Graph nodes are the objects in them. They can store infinite properties, or key/value pairs, as attributes. Nodes can have labels attached to them to indicate their various roles. Additionally, node labels are used to link specific nodes to metadata.
• Relationship – Between two node entities, relationships offer identified, directed links that are semantically important. Relationships have four constants: type, direction, start node, and end node. Properties are also a possibility for relationships.

What is Neo4j?

• The graph database management system Neo4j (Network Exploration and Optimization 4 Java) implements ACID principles, is schema-free (NoSQL), and is very scalable. Neo4j stores and manages its data using the property graph approach.
• Cypher is a powerful declarative language offered by Neo4j. Cypher is a query language for Neo4j that is user-friendly and employs ASCII-Art to represent visual graph patterns.

Creating Node using CQL

1. Creating a single node –

Syntax –

2. Creating multiple nodes –

Syntax –

3. Creating a node with a label –

Syntax –

4. Creating a node with label & key-value pair –

Syntax –

Creating Node with Relationship

1. Creating nodes and relationships between them

Syntax –

2. Creating a relationship with labels and properties

Syntax –

Retrieving Data

1. Retrieve all nodes available in the database

Syntax –

2. Return nodes with a specific label –

Syntax –

3. Retrieve nodes based on a specific relation

Syntax –

4. Retrieve node with a specified property value

Syntax –

5. Retrieve nodes with multiple specified properties

Syntax –

Updating Node values

1. Update existing property

Syntax –

2. Removing an existing property from the node

Syntax –

3. Set the table to an existing node

Syntax –

Deleting Node

1. Delete all nodes and relationships in the database

Syntax –

2. Delete particular node with specified label and properties

Syntax –

3. Removing specified property of a node

Syntax –

4. Removing the label of a node

Syntax –

Conclusion

Neo4j is a high-performance graph store with all the characteristics of a mature and robust database, such as an easy-to-use query language and ACID transactions. The programmer works using a flexible network structure of nodes and associations rather than static tables — while reaping the benefits of an enterprise-quality database.

About CloudThat