The RETURN clause is used return nodes, relationships, and properties in Neo4j. In this chapter, we are going to learn how to −

• Return nodes
• Return multiple nodes
• Return relationships
• Return properties
• Return all elements
• Return a variable with column alias

Returning Nodes

You can return a node using the RETURN clause.

Syntax

Following is a syntax to return nodes using the RETURN clause.

Create (node:label {properties}) 
RETURN node 

Example

Before proceeding with the example, create 3 nodes and 2 relationships as shown below.

Create (Dhoni:player {name: "MahendraSingh Dhoni", YOB: 1981, POB: "Ranchi"}) 
CREATE (Ind:Country {name: "India", result: "Winners"}) 
CREATE (CT2013:Tornament {name: "ICC Champions Trophy 2013"}) 
CREATE (Ind)-[r1:WINNERS_OF {NRR:0.938 ,pts:6}]->(CT2013) 
CREATE(Dhoni)-[r2:CAPTAIN_OF]->(Ind) 

Following is a sample Cypher Query which creates a node named Dhoni and returns it.

Create (Dhoni:player {name: "MahendraSingh Dhoni", YOB: 1981, POB: "Ranchi"}) 
RETURN Dhoni

To execute the above query, carry out the following steps −

Step 1 − Open the Neo4j desktop App and start the Neo4j Server. Open the built-in browser app of Neo4j using the URL http://localhost:7474/ as shown in the following screenshot.

Step 2 − Copy and paste the desired query in the dollar prompt and press the play button (to execute the query) highlighted in the following screenshot.

Result

On executing, you will get the following result.

Returning Multiple Nodes

You can also return multiple nodes using the return clause.

Syntax

Following is the syntax to return multiple nodes using the return clause.

CREATE (Ind:Country {name: "India", result: "Winners"}) 
CREATE (CT2013:Tornament {name: "ICC Champions Trophy 2013"}) 
RETURN Ind, CT2013 

Example

Following is a sample Cypher Query to return multiple nodes using the return clause.

CREATE (Ind:Country {name: "India", result: "Winners"}) 
CREATE (CT2013:Tornament {name: "ICC Champions Trophy 2013"}) 
RETURN Ind, CT2013 

To execute the above query, carry out the following steps −

Step 1 − Open the Neo4j desktop App and start the Neo4j Server. Open the built-in browser app of Neo4j using the URL http://localhost:7474/ as shown in the following screenshot.

Step 2 − Copy and paste the desired query in the dollar prompt and press the play button (to execute the query) highlighted in the following screenshot.

Result

On executing, you will get the following result. Here you can observe that Neo4j returned 2 nodes.

Returning Relationships

You can also return relationships using the Return clause.

Syntax

Following is the syntax to return relationships using the RETURN clause.

CREATE (node1)-[Relationship:Relationship_type]->(node2) 
RETURN Relationship 

Example

Following is a sample Cypher Query which creates two relationships and returns them.

CREATE (Ind)-[r1:WINNERS_OF {NRR:0.938 ,pts:6}]->(CT2013) 
CREATE(Dhoni)-[r2:CAPTAIN_OF]->(Ind) 
RETURN r1, r2 

To execute the above query, carry out the following steps −

Step 1 − Open the Neo4j desktop App and start the Neo4j Server. Open the built-in browser app of Neo4j using the URL http://localhost:7474/ as shown in the following screenshot.

Step 2 − Copy and paste the desired query in the dollar prompt and press the play button (to execute the query) highlighted in the following screenshot.

Result

On executing, you will get the following result.

Returning Properties

You can also return properties using the RETURN clause.

Syntax

Following is a syntax to return properties using the RETURN clause.

Match (node:label {properties . . . . . . . . . . }) 
Return node.property 

Example

Following is a sample Cypher Query to return the properties of a node.

Match (Dhoni:player {name: "MahendraSingh Dhoni", YOB: 1981, POB: "Ranchi"}) 
Return Dhoni.name, Dhoni.POB 

To execute the above query, carry out the following steps −

Step 1 − Open the Neo4j desktop App and start the Neo4j Server. Open the built-in browser app of Neo4j using the URL http://localhost:7474/ as shown in the following screenshot.

Step 2 − Copy and paste the desired query in the dollar prompt and press the play button (to execute the query) highlighted in the following screenshot.

Result

On executing, you will get the following result.

Returning All Elements

You can return all the elements in the Neo4j database using the RETURN clause.

Example

Following is an example Cypher Query to return all the elements in the database.

Match p = (n {name: "India", result: "Winners"})-[r]-(x)  
RETURN * 

To execute the above query, carry out the following steps −

Step 1 − Open the Neo4j desktop App and start the Neo4j Server. Open the built-in browser app of Neo4j using the URL http://localhost:7474/ as shown in the following screenshot.

Step 2 − Copy and paste the desired query in the dollar prompt and press the play button (to execute the query) highlighted in the following screenshot.

Result

On executing, you will get the following result.

Returning a Variable With a Column Alias

You can return a particular column with alias using RETURN clause in Neo4j.

Example

Following is a sample Cypher Query which returns the column POB as Place Of Birth.

Match (Dhoni:player {name: "MahendraSingh Dhoni", YOB: 1981, POB: "Ranchi"}) 
Return Dhoni.POB as Place Of Birth

To execute the above query, carry out the following steps −

Step 1 − Open the Neo4j desktop App and start the Neo4j Server. Open the built-in browser app of Neo4j using the URL http://localhost:7474/ as shown in the following screenshot.

Step 2 − Copy and paste the desired query in the dollar prompt and press the play button (to execute the query) highlighted in the following screenshot.

Result

On executing, you will get the following result.