SET

Overview

The SET statement allows you to set properties and labels on nodes and edges. These nodes or edges must first be retrieved using the MATCH statement.

Note: The unique identifier _id is immutable.

Example Graph

GQL
INSERT (rowlock:User {_id: "U01", name: "rowlock"}),
       (brainy:User {_id: "U02", name: "Brainy", gender: "male"}),
       (purplechalk:User {_id: "U03", name: "purplechalk", gender: "female"}),
       (mochaeach:User {_id: "U04", name: "mochaeach", gender: "female"}),
       (c:Club {_id: "C01"}),
       (rowlock)-[:Follows {createdOn: date("2024-01-05")}]->(brainy),
       (purplechalk)-[:Follows {createdOn: date("2024-02-01")}]->(brainy),
       (mochaeach)-[:Follows {createdOn: date("2024-02-10")}]->(brainy),
       (brainy)-[:Joins {memberNo: 1}]->(c)

Updating Individual Properties

To update the value of each specified property:

GQL
MATCH (n:User {name: 'rowlock'})-[e:Follows]->(:User {name: 'Brainy'})
SET n.gender = 'male', e.createdOn = date('2024-01-07')
RETURN n.gender, e.createdOn

To remove the value of a property by setting it to null:

GQL
MATCH (n:User {name: 'mochaeach'})
SET n.gender = null

Updating All Properties

You can replace all properties (except _id) of a node or edge using a record. Any property included in the record will be updated, while all other properties will be set to null (closed graph) or removed (open graph).

GQL
MATCH (n:User {name: 'purplechalk'})
SET n = {name: 'MasterSwift'}
RETURN n

To remove all property values by setting an empty record:

GQL
MATCH (n:User {name: 'rowlock'})
SET n = {}
RETURN n

Adding Labels

To add one label to a node:

GQL
MATCH (n:User {name: 'rowlock'})
SET n:Player

To add multiple labels to a node:

GQL
MATCH (n:User {name: 'rowlock'})
SET n:Player, n:Employee

To update labels of FOLLOWS edges to Links (each edge has up to one label):

GQL
MATCH ()-[e:Follows]->()
SET e:Links

NOTE

To remove labels from nodes or edges, use the REMOVE statement.