Read the book online: "https://graphtechnologydevelopers.github.io/brief-intro-graph-databases/"
Graphs model the interconnected fabric of real-world data—from social ties to supply chains, biological networks to fraud patterns. Traditional databases like RDBMS handle structured rows well, but as relationships proliferate, queries bog down with expensive joins. Graph databases prioritize these connections, delivering fast traversals even in massive, evolving datasets.
This manual expands on core concepts for developers, blending theory with practical how-tos. Expect deeper dives into modeling, querying, and implementation, with code samples in Cypher and Python, plus Mermaid diagrams for clarity. It's distilled from key sources but written briskly: why graphs outperform alternatives, how to build and query them, and tips for real apps.
Data explodes, but value lies in links. Spot fraud rings via cycles; recommend via paths. Ignore graphs, and your systems miss hidden insights.
- Welcome to Connected Data
- Why Graphs Matter
- Graph Theory Primer
- "Core Concepts: Nodes and Edges"
- Graph Models Compared
- Data Organization Techniques
- "Querying Graphs: Languages That Click"
- Data Modeling Basics
- Data Modeling Pitfalls to Avoid
- Why Ditch Relational for Graphs?
- "NoSQL Context: Where Graphs Fit"
- Native vs Non-Native Processing
- Graph Algorithms Essentials
- "Use Cases: Graphs in Action"
- Popular Graph Databases
- Distribution and Transactions
- Future Challenges
- Imperative vs Declarative Queries
- Pitfalls in Graph Modeling
- Getting Started with Neo4j
- Wrapping Up
- Acknowledgements
- Graph Technology Developers GitHub Org
- Graph Technology Developers Community Hub
- Graph Technology Developers X Community
- CodeGraphTheory on GitHub
- CodeGraph on X
- GraphTheory on X
This book is available as open source under the MIT License.
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
For issues or questions:
- Open an issue in this repository
- Visit Graph Technology Developers
- Join the X community