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Social Network Tutorial

Build a social network graph step by step.

What You'll Build​

A simple social network with users, friendships, and followers.

Step 1: Create the Graph​

import { InMemoryGraphFactory } from 'grafio';
import { CypherEngine } from 'grafio/cypher';

const factory = new InMemoryGraphFactory();
const graph = factory.forGraph('default');
const engine = new CypherEngine(graph);

Step 2: Add Users​

await engine.execute(`
  CREATE (alice:User {name: 'Alice', age: 30, city: 'NYC'}),
         (bob:User {name: 'Bob', age: 25, city: 'LA'}),
         (carol:User {name: 'Carol', age: 35, city: 'NYC'}),
         (david:User {name: 'David', age: 28, city: 'SF'})
`);

Step 3: Create Relationships​

await engine.execute(`
  MATCH (a:User {name: 'Alice'}), (b:User {name: 'Bob'})
  MATCH (c:User {name: 'Carol'}), (d:User {name: 'David'})
  CREATE (a)-[:KNOWS]->(b)
  CREATE (b)-[:KNOWS]->(a)
  CREATE (c)-[:FOLLOWS]->(a)
  CREATE (d)-[:KNOWS]->(c)
  CREATE (c)-[:KNOWS]->(d)
`);

Step 4: Query the Network​

Find All Friends of Alice​

const result = await engine.query(`
  MATCH (alice:User {name: 'Alice'})-[:KNOWS]->(friend:User)
  RETURN friend.name AS friendName
`);

console.log(`Alice's friends: ${result.rows.map(r => r.friendName)}`);

Find Alice's Followers​

const result = await engine.query(`
  MATCH (follower:User)-[:FOLLOWS]->(alice:User {name: 'Alice'})
  RETURN follower.name AS followerName
`);

console.log(`Alice's followers: ${result.rows.map(r => r.followerName)}`);

Step 5: Filter Users​

Find Users in NYC using Cypher​

const result = await engine.query(`
  MATCH (u:User) WHERE u.city = 'NYC' RETURN u.name, u.age
`);

Find Users Over 30​

const result = await engine.query(`
  MATCH (u:User) WHERE u.age > 30 RETURN u.name, u.age
`);

Step 6: Analyze the Network​

Check Connectivity with Traverse​

// Is there a path from David to Alice?
const paths = await graph.traverse(david.id, alice.id);
console.log(paths); // [['davidId', 'carolId', 'aliceId']] or null

Complete Code​

import { InMemoryGraphFactory } from 'grafio';
import { CypherEngine } from 'grafio/cypher';

async function main() {
  const factory = new InMemoryGraphFactory();
  const graph = factory.forGraph('default');
  const engine = new CypherEngine(graph);

  // Build graph
  await engine.execute(`
    CREATE (alice:User {name: 'Alice', age: 30, city: 'NYC'}),
           (bob:User {name: 'Bob', age: 25, city: 'LA'}),
           (carol:User {name: 'Carol', age: 35, city: 'NYC'}),
           (david:User {name: 'David', age: 28, city: 'SF'})
  `);

  await engine.execute(`
    MATCH (a:User {name: 'Alice'}), (b:User {name: 'Bob'})
    MATCH (c:User {name: 'Carol'}), (d:User {name: 'David'})
    CREATE (a)-[:KNOWS]->(b)
    CREATE (b)-[:KNOWS]->(a)
    CREATE (c)-[:FOLLOWS]->(a)
    CREATE (d)-[:KNOWS]->(c)
    CREATE (c)-[:KNOWS]->(d)
  `);

  // Find Alice's friends
  const friends = await engine.query(`
    MATCH (alice:User {name: 'Alice'})-[:KNOWS]->(friend:User)
    RETURN friend.name AS friendName
  `);
  console.log(`Alice's friends: ${friends.rows.map(r => r.friendName)}`);

  // Find users in NYC
  const nycUsers = await engine.query(`
    MATCH (u:User {city: 'NYC'}) RETURN u.name AS name
  `);
  console.log(`NYC users: ${nycUsers.rows.map(r => r.name)}`);

  // Check for path
  const path = await graph.traverse(david.id, alice.id);
  console.log(`Path from David to Alice: ${path}`);
}

main();

Next Steps​