---
title: "19: Basic graph relations | SurrealDB University"
description: "Follow along with interactive SurrealDB lessons featuring hands-on exercises, code examples, and step-by-step instructions."
url: https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-19
---

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[Welcome to the Tour of SurrealDB!](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour) [1: Connecting to a database](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-01) [2: Creating records](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-02) [3: Using the ONLY keyword](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-03) [4: Non-ASCII record IDs](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-04) [5: Parentheses, indexing, and accessing fields](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-05) [6: Deleting records](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-06) [7: Field order in objects](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-07) [8: Tips when selecting records](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-08) [9: Casting and aliases](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-09) [10: Affixes](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-10) [11: Updating records](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-11) [12: Linking records](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-12) [13: Viewing the database as a whole](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-13) [14: Schemafull and schemaless](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-14) [15: Viewing the schema](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-15) [16: Literal types and assertions](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-16) [17: INSERT and using JSON](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-17) [18: FOR loops](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-18) [19: Basic graph relations](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-19) [20: Creating graph edges](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-20) [21: Querying graph relations](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-21) [22: Graph relations at greater depth](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-22) [23: Adding and improving data](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-23) [24: Defining events](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-24) [25: Defining indexes](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-25) [26: Improving the schema](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-26) [27: Visualising graph paths](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-27) [28: Recursive queries: setup](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-28) [29: Recursive queries](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-29) [30: More on recursive queries](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-30) [31: AI vector search](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-31) [Done the tour!](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-32)

# 19: Basic graph relations

The record link method we used a few pages ago is the most straightforward way to make a link. Here is how we created a record link back on [page 12](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-12):

```surql
UPDATE town:riverdale SET libraries = [place:surreal_library];
```

While straightforward to use, record links are simple connections between records that don't contain any information about the link itself.

But sometimes we might also want information about the link - the relation - between two records. If a library adds a new customer, it would be nice to have a field that shows when the person became a customer, such as `SET customer_since = d'2025-02-11'`.

And a field like `customer_since` doesn't belong to `person` or a `place`, but to the relation between the two.

To accomplish this, we can use a second type of link called a graph edge. These edges are created and queried using their own syntax that uses arrows.

This arrow syntax is easiest to get used to by thinking about the links and queries we want to make. You can query in one direction using `->` arrows to the right:

| I want to know... | Path | Path explanation | Possible metadata |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

| ...where people work | `person->works_at->place` | `person` to `works_at` to `place`| When did the person start? How much is the salary?
| ...which books people like | `person->likes->book` | `person` to `likes` to `book`| How much does the person like a book? |

Or the other direction using `<-` arrows to the left.

| I want to know... | Path | Path explanation | Possible metadata |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ...who works at a place | `place<-works_at<-person` | `place` to being "worked at" by a `person` | Same as above |
| ...who likes a certain book | `book<-likes<-person` | `book` to being `like`d by a `person` | Same as above |

As the paths show, we aren't dealing with direct links this time, but a table in the middle that has a certain name (like `works_at` or `likes`). The table in the middle is a graph edge, which always contains two fields called `in` and `out`. The `in` field is where the ID goes for the record that *does* something, and the `out` field for the record goes that has something *done to it*.

And the table in the middle can contain other fields, just like regular records do.

Now that we have the basics down, we'll start making some graph relations in the next page.

Previous

18: FOR loops

[Previous](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-18)

Next lesson

20: Creating graph edges

[Next lesson](https://surrealdb.com/learn/tour/page-20)

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