Neo4j::Cypher Return

Return

Unlike the original cypher language you can specify a return value at any place in the DSL. If you don't specify a return value it will try to return the last value evaluated in the DSL.

The Last Value is the Return Value

node(2)
node(3)

Will generate the following Cypher string: START v1=node(2),v2=node(3) RETURN v2

Returning an Array, Serveral Values

If you want to return both nodes in the example above you can either return an array or use the ret method (see below).

Example of returning an array

[node(2), node(3)]

Will generate: START v1=node(2),v2=node(3) RETURN v1,v2

Example, specify the variable names (see Neo4j::Cypher-Start

[node(2).as(:x), node(3).as(:y)]

Will generate: START x=node(2),y=node(3) RETURN x,y

The #ret method (global)

Instead of returning an Ruby array you can specify the return values using the ret method.

ret(node(1), node(2))

Will generate: START v1=node(1),v2=node(2) RETURN v1,v2

Notice that you don't have to use the ret method in the last evaluated expression. A silly example:

ret(node(2))
node(3)

Will return: START v1=node(2),v2=node(3) RETURN v1

Returning Ruby Symbols

Ruby symbols corresponds to the cypher variable names.

node(2).as(:foo) >> :bar; :bar

Will generate: START foo=node(2) MATCH (foo)-->(bar) RETURN bar

The symbols can also be used in the ret method, example

node(2) >> :x >> :y
ret :x, :y

Will generate: START v1=node(2) MATCH (v1)-->(x)-->(y) RETURN x,y

The #ret method (local)

The ret method is also available on paths, nodes, relationships and properties ! This allows you to specify the return value immediately.

Instead of the two line example above you can write that in one line like this:

node(2) >> node(:x).ret >> node(:y).ret

Will generate: START v1=node(2) MATCH (v1)-->(x)-->(y) RETURN x,y