Introduction

Using WITH, you can manipulate the output before it is passed on to the following query parts. The manipulations can be of the shape and/or number of entries in the result set.

WITH can also, like RETURN, alias expressions that are introduced into the results using the aliases as the binding name.

WITH is also used to separate the reading of the graph from updating of the graph. Every part of a query must be either read-only or write-only. When going from a writing clause to a reading clause, an optional WITH can be used to do so.

Filter on aggregate function results

Aggregated results have to pass through a WITH clause to be able to filter on.

Query

SELECT *
FROM cypher('graph_name', $$
    MATCH (david {name: 'David'})-[]-(otherPerson)-[]->()
    WITH otherPerson, count(*) AS foaf
    WHERE foaf > 1
    RETURN otherPerson.name
$$) as (name agtype);

The name of the person connected to ‘David’ with the at least more than one outgoing relationship will be returned by the query.

Result

Sort results before using collect on them

You can sort results before passing them to collect, thus sorting the resulting list.

Query

SELECT *
FROM cypher('graph_name', $$
    MATCH (n)WITH n
    ORDER BY n.name DESC LIMIT 3
    RETURN collect(n.name)
$$) as (names agtype);

A list of the names of people in reverse order, limited to 3, is returned in a list.

Result

Limit branching of a path search

You can match paths, limit to a certain number, and then match again using those paths as a base, as well as any number of similar limited searches.

Query

SELECT *
FROM cypher('graph_name', $$
    MATCH (n {name: 'Anders'})-[]-(m)WITH m
    ORDER BY m.name DESC LIMIT 1
    MATCH (m)-[]-(o)
    RETURN o.name
$$) as (name agtype);

Starting at ‘Anders’, find all matching nodes, order by name descending and get the top result, then find all the nodes connected to that top result, and return their names.

Result