Getting Acquainted with an Unknown Graph

Finding your way around an unknown graph can seem a bit ambiguous at first due to Neo4j being schema-free. Especially if you’re newer to graph databases and used to a relational database where you would simply open the ERD and have a look through the tables. Just because Neo4j is schema-free doesn’t mean that schema-like elements are not present. The Neo4j graph database schema

elements are composed of Label Names, Relationship Types, Indexes and Constraints on Property Keys. Let’s look at some techniques for getting aquatinted with an unknown graph.

Initial Unknown Graph Exploration

Here are a few quick tips to help build out the initial mental model of connections within the graph to get you started:

• To observe the graph schema, the easiest area to look into is the browser panel in Neo4j. From there, you’ll be able to observe Label Names, Relationship Types and Property Keys. Each one can be clicked and will immediately load a maximum of 25 associated results. These results can provide a basic starting point to help you navigate your way through the graph.
• To understand the Indexes and Constraints applied to the graph database, which will begin to shape some of the business rules around the data in the graph, you’ll want to execute the query, “:schema” within the browser to observe all the index and constraint rules for the Labels and Relationships with their respective Property Keys.
• To gain a better understanding of the amount of nodes in the graph as a whole or within a certain

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