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Version: 1.x

SurrealDB for Neo4j developers

Quickly learn how to map your Neo4j knowledge to corresponding SurrealDB concepts and syntax.

Introduction

As a multi-model database, SurrealDB offers a lot of flexibility. Our SQL-like query language SurrealQL is a good example of this, where we often have more than one way to achieve the same result, depending on developer preference. In this mapping guide, we will focus on the syntax that most closely resembles the Cypher query language.

Concepts mapping

For more in-depth explanations of SurrealDB concepts, see the concepts page.

Neo4jSurrealDB

database

database

node label

table

node

record

node property

field

index

index

id

record id

transactions

transactions

relationships

record links, embedding and graph relations

Syntax mapping

Let's get you up to speed with SurrealQL syntax with some CRUD examples.

Create

As Neo4j is schemafull, only the SurrealQL schemafull approach is shown below. For a schemafull option see the define table page.

For more SurrealQL examples, see the create, insert and relate pages.

CypherSurrealQL

CREATE (John:Person name:'John'), (Jane:Person name: 'Jane')

INSERT INTO person [ id: "John", name: "John", id: "Jane", name: "Jane" ] Table implicitly created if it doesn't exist

MATCH (p:Person name:'Jane'), (pr:Product name:'iPhone') CREATE (p)-[:ORDER]->(pr)

RELATE person:Jane -> order -> product:iPhone There are many differences between how SurrealDB and Neo4j do graph relations. Check out the relate docs for more.

CREATE INDEX personNameIndex FOR (p:Person) ON (p.name)

DEFINE INDEX idx_name ON TABLE person COLUMNS name

Read

For more SurrealQL examples, see the select, live select and return pages.

CypherSurrealQL

MATCH (p:Person) RETURN p

SELECT * FROM person

MATCH (p:Person) RETURN p.name

SELECT name FROM person

MATCH (p:Person) WHERE p.name = "Jane" RETURN p.name

SELECT name FROM person WHERE name = "Jane"

EXPLAIN MATCH (p:Person) WHERE p.name = "Jane" RETURN p.name

SELECT name FROM person WHERE name = "Jane" EXPLAIN

EXPLAIN MATCH (p:Person) WHERE p.name = "Jane" RETURN p.name

SELECT name FROM person WHERE name = "Jane" EXPLAIN

MATCH (p:Person) RETURN count(*) as person_count

SELECT count() AS person_count FROM person GROUP ALL

MATCH (p:Person) RETURN distinct p.name

SELECT array::distinct(name) FROM person GROUP ALL

MATCH (p:Person) RETURN p LIMIT 10

SELECT * FROM person LIMIT 10

MATCH (p:Person)-[:ORDER]->(pr:Product) RETURN p.name, pr.name

SELECT name, ->order->product.name FROM person

Update

For more SurrealQL examples, see the update page.

CypherSurrealQL

MATCH (p:Person) WHERE p.name = "Jane" SET p.last_name = 'Doe' RETURN p

UPDATE person SET last_name = "Doe" WHERE name = "Jane"

MATCH (p:Person) WHERE p.name = "Jane" REMOVE p.last_name RETURN p

UPDATE person UNSET last_name WHERE name = "Jane"

MATCH (p:Person) WHERE p.name = "Jane" RETURN p.name

SELECT name FROM person WHERE name = "Jane"

Delete

For more SurrealQL examples, see the delete and remove pages.

CypherSurrealQL

MATCH (p:Person) WHERE p.name = "Jane" DELETE p

DELETE person WHERE name = "Jane"

MATCH (p:Person) DELETE p

DELETE person Node/Table still exists here but is empty

MATCH (p:Person) DELETE p

REMOVE TABLE person Node/Table no longer exists