The limit clause is used to limit the number of rows in the output.

Syntax

Following is the syntax of the LIMIT clause.

MATCH (n) 
RETURN n 
ORDER BY n.name 
LIMIT 3 

Example

Before proceeding with the example, create 5 nodes in the Neo4j database as shown below.

CREATE(Dhawan:player{name:"shikar Dhawan", YOB: 1985, runs:363, country: "India"})
CREATE(Jonathan:player{name:"Jonathan Trott", YOB:1981, runs:229, country:"South Africa"})
CREATE(Sangakkara:player{name:"Kumar Sangakkara", YOB:1977, runs:222, country:"Srilanka"})
CREATE(Rohit:player{name:"Rohit Sharma", YOB: 1987, runs:177, country:"India"})
CREATE(Virat:player{name:"Virat Kohli", YOB: 1988, runs:176, country:"India"})

Following is a sample Cypher Query which returns the nodes created above in a descending order and limits the records in the result to 3.

MATCH (n)  
RETURN n.name, n.runs 
ORDER BY n.runs DESC 
LIMIT 3 

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.

Limit with expression

You can also use the LIMIT clause with expression.

Example

Following is a sample Cypher Query which limits the records using an expression.

MATCH (n) 
RETURN n.name, n.runs 
ORDER BY n.runs DESC 
LIMIT toInt(3 * rand())+ 1 

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.