Delete Detach Delete Set Remove | Cypher Basics

1. DELETE

The DELETE command is used to remove nodes or relationships from the graph. To delete a node, all its relationships must be removed first.

DELETE node_name

DELETE n

This command deletes the node n, but will fail if n has any relationships.

Note: Always ensure to remove relationships before deleting a node to avoid errors.

The DETACH DELETE command allows you to delete a node and all its associated relationships in one command.

DETACH DELETE node_name

DETACH DELETE n

This command deletes the node n along with all the relationships connected to it.

The SET command is used to assign properties to nodes or relationships. It can also be used to update existing properties.

SET node_name.property = value

SET n.name = 'New Name'

This command updates the property name of the node n to 'New Name'.

The REMOVE command is used to delete properties from nodes or relationships.

REMOVE node_name.property

REMOVE n.name

This command removes the property name from the node n.

What happens if I try to DELETE a node with existing relationships?

The DELETE command will fail with an error message indicating that the node cannot be deleted due to existing relationships.

Can I use SET to add multiple properties at once?

No, you need to use separate SET commands for each property or use a map to set multiple properties in one command.

Is there a way to delete nodes based on a condition?

Yes, you can use a MATCH clause to find nodes that meet certain criteria before using DELETE or DETACH DELETE.