Python Driver Basics for Neo4j

Introduction

The Neo4j Python driver allows developers to connect and interact with a Neo4j database using Python. This lesson covers the essentials for getting started with the driver, including installation, basic queries, and best practices.

Installation

The Neo4j Python driver can be installed via pip. Run the following command in your terminal:

pip install neo4j

Basic Usage

To use the Neo4j Python driver, you need to establish a connection to your Neo4j database. Below is a step-by-step guide:

1. Import the driver module:

from neo4j import GraphDatabase

2. Create a driver instance:

driver = GraphDatabase.driver("bolt://localhost:7687", auth=("neo4j", "password"))

3. Define a function to run a query:

def run_query(query):
    with driver.session() as session:
        result = session.run(query)
        return [record for record in result]
                        

4. Run a Cypher query:

data = run_query("MATCH (n) RETURN n LIMIT 10")

5. Close the driver when done:

driver.close()

Best Practices

Follow these best practices when using the Neo4j Python driver:

• Always close the driver after use to free up resources.
• Use parameterized queries to prevent Cypher injection attacks.
• Utilize connection pooling for better performance in multi-threaded applications.
• Handle exceptions gracefully to ensure application stability.