Constraints

Introduction

The following constraint types are available:

Unique node property constraints

Unique property constraints ensure that property values are unique for all nodes with a specific label. Unique constraints do not mean that all nodes have to have a unique value for the properties — nodes without the property are not subject to this rule.

Node property existence constraints

Node property existence constraints ensure that a property exists for all nodes with a specific label. Queries that try to create new nodes of the specified label, but without this property, will fail. The same is true for queries that try to remove the mandatory property.

Relationship property existence constraints

Property existence constraints ensure that a property exists for all relationships with a specific type. All queries that try to create relationships of the specified type, but without this property, will fail. The same is true for queries that try to remove the mandatory property.

Node key constraints

Node key constraints ensure that, for a given label and set of properties:

  1. All the properties exist on all the nodes with that label.

  2. The combination of the property values is unique.

Queries attempting to do any of the following will fail:

  • Create new nodes without all the properties or where the combination of property values is not unique.

  • Remove one of the mandatory properties.

  • Update the properties so that the combination of property values is no longer unique.

Unique node property constraints, node property existence constraints and relationship property existence constraints are only available in Neo4j Enterprise Edition. Databases containing one of these constraint types cannot be opened using Neo4j Community Edition.

Creating a constraint has the following implications on indexes:

  • Adding a unique property constraint on a property will also add a single-property index on that property, so such an index cannot be added separately.

  • Adding a node key constraint for a set of properties will also add a composite index on those properties, so such an index cannot be added separately.

  • Cypher® will use these indexes for lookups just like other indexes. Refer to Indexes for search performance for more details on indexes.

  • If a unique property constraint is dropped and the single-property index on the property is still required, the index will need to be created explicitly.

  • If a node key constraint is dropped and the composite-property index on the properties is still required, the index will need to be created explicitly.

Additionally, the following is true for constraints:

  • A given label can have multiple constraints, and unique and property existence constraints can be combined on the same property.

  • Adding constraints is an atomic operation that can take a while — all existing data has to be scanned before Neo4j can turn the constraint 'on'.

  • Best practice is to give the constraint a name when it is created. If the constraint is not explicitly named, it will get an auto-generated name.

  • The constraint name must be unique among both indexes and constraints.

  • Constraint creation is not idempotent. An error will be thrown if you attempt to create the same constraint twice.

Syntax

Table 1. Syntax for managing indexes
Command Description Comment 
CREATE CONSTRAINT [constraint_name]
ON (n:LabelName)
ASSERT n.propertyName IS UNIQUE

Create a unique node property constraint.

Best practice is to give the constraint a name when it is created. If the constraint is not explicitly named, it will get an auto-generated name.

The constraint name must be unique among both indexes and constraints.

Constraint creation is not idempotent. An error will be thrown if you attempt to create the same constraint twice.

 
CREATE CONSTRAINT [constraint_name]
ON (n:LabelName)
ASSERT EXISTS (n.propertyName)

Create a node property existence constraint.

 
CREATE CONSTRAINT [constraint_name]
ON ()-"["R:RELATIONSHIP_TYPE"]"-()
ASSERT EXISTS (R.propertyName)

Create a relationship property existence constraint.

 
CREATE CONSTRAINT [constraint_name]
ON (n:LabelName)
ASSERT (n.propertyName_1,
n.propertyName_2,
…
n.propertyName_n)
IS NODE KEY

Create a node key constraint.

 
DROP CONSTRAINT constraint_name

Drop a constraint.

 
CALL db.constraints

List all constraints in the database.

 
DROP CONSTRAINT
ON (n:LabelName)
ASSERT n.propertyName IS UNIQUE

Drop a unique constraint without specifying a name.

This syntax is deprecated.

 
DROP CONSTRAINT
ON (n:LabelName)
ASSERT EXISTS (n.propertyName)

Drop an exists constraint without specifying a name.

 
DROP CONSTRAINT
ON ()-"["R:RELATIONSHIP_TYPE"]"-()
ASSERT EXISTS (R.propertyName)

Drop a relationship property existence constraint without specifying a name.

 
DROP CONSTRAINT
ON (n:LabelName)
ASSERT (n.propertyName_1,
n.propertyName_2,
…
n.propertyName_n)
IS NODE KEY

Drop a node key constraint without specifying a name.

Creating a constraint requires the CREATE CONSTRAINT privilege, while dropping a constraint requires the DROP CONSTRAINT privilege. Listing constraints does not require any privileges.

Examples

Unique node property constraints

Create a unique constraint

When creating a unique constraint, a name can be provided. The constraint ensures that your database will never contain more than one node with a specific label and one property value.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT constraint_name ON (book:Book) ASSERT book.isbn IS UNIQUE
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Unique constraints added: 1

Create a node that complies with unique property constraints

Create a Book node with an isbn that isn’t already in the database.

Query
CREATE (book:Book {isbn: '1449356265', title: 'Graph Databases'})
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Nodes created: 1
Properties set: 2
Labels added: 1

Create a node that violates a unique property constraint

Create a Book node with an isbn that is already used in the database.

Query
CREATE (book:Book {isbn: '1449356265', title: 'Graph Databases'})

In this case the node isn’t created in the graph.

Error message
Node(0) already exists with label `Book` and property `isbn` = '1449356265'

Failure to create a unique property constraint due to conflicting nodes

Create a unique property constraint on the property isbn on nodes with the Book label when there are two nodes with the same isbn.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT ON (book:Book) ASSERT book.isbn IS UNIQUE

In this case the constraint can’t be created because it is violated by existing data. We may choose to use Indexes for search performance instead or remove the offending nodes and then re-apply the constraint.

Error message
Unable to create CONSTRAINT ON ( book:Book ) ASSERT (book.isbn) IS UNIQUE:
Both Node(0) and Node(1) have the label `Book` and property `isbn` = '1449356265'

Node property existence constraints

Create a node property existence constraint

When creating a node property existence constraint, a name can be provided. The constraint ensures that all nodes with a certain label have a certain property.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT constraint_name ON (book:Book) ASSERT exists(book.isbn)
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Property existence constraints added: 1

Create a node that complies with property existence constraints

Create a Book node with an isbn property.

Query
CREATE (book:Book {isbn: '1449356265', title: 'Graph Databases'})
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Nodes created: 1
Properties set: 2
Labels added: 1

Create a node that violates a property existence constraint

Trying to create a Book node without an isbn property, given a property existence constraint on :Book(isbn).

Query
CREATE (book:Book {title: 'Graph Databases'})

In this case the node isn’t created in the graph.

Error message
Node(0) with label `Book` must have the property `isbn`

Removing an existence constrained node property

Trying to remove the isbn property from an existing node book, given a property existence constraint on :Book(isbn).

Query
MATCH (book:Book {title: 'Graph Databases'}) REMOVE book.isbn

In this case the property is not removed.

Error message
Node(0) with label `Book` must have the property `isbn`

Failure to create a node property existence constraint due to existing node

Create a constraint on the property isbn on nodes with the Book label when there already exists a node without an isbn.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT ON (book:Book) ASSERT exists(book.isbn)

In this case the constraint can’t be created because it is violated by existing data. We may choose to remove the offending nodes and then re-apply the constraint.

Error message
Unable to create CONSTRAINT ON ( book:Book ) ASSERT exists(book.isbn):
Node(0) with label `Book` must have the property `isbn`

Relationship property existence constraints

Create a relationship property existence constraint

When creating a relationship property existence constraint, a name can be provided. The constraint ensures all relationships with a certain type have a certain property.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT constraint_name ON ()-[like:LIKED]-() ASSERT exists(like.day)
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Property existence constraints added: 1

Create a relationship that complies with property existence constraints

Create a LIKED relationship with a day property.

Query
CREATE (user:User)-[like:LIKED {day: 'yesterday'}]->(book:Book)
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Nodes created: 2
Relationships created: 1
Properties set: 1
Labels added: 2

Create a relationship that violates a property existence constraint

Trying to create a LIKED relationship without a day property, given a property existence constraint :LIKED(day).

Query
CREATE (user:User)-[like:LIKED]->(book:Book)

In this case the relationship isn’t created in the graph.

Error message
Relationship(0) with type `LIKED` must have the property `day`

Removing an existence constrained relationship property

Trying to remove the day property from an existing relationship like of type LIKED, given a property existence constraint :LIKED(day).

Query
MATCH (user:User)-[like:LIKED]->(book:Book) REMOVE like.day

In this case the property is not removed.

Error message
Relationship(0) with type `LIKED` must have the property `day`

Failure to create a relationship property existence constraint due to existing relationship

Create a constraint on the property day on relationships with the LIKED type when there already exists a relationship without a property named day.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT ON ()-[like:LIKED]-() ASSERT exists(like.day)

In this case the constraint can’t be created because it is violated by existing data. We may choose to remove the offending relationships and then re-apply the constraint.

Error message
Unable to create CONSTRAINT ON ()-[ liked:LIKED ]-() ASSERT exists(liked.day):
Relationship(0) with type `LIKED` must have the property `day`

Node key constraints

Create a node key constraint

When creating a node key constraint, a name can be provided. The constraint ensures that all nodes with a particular label have a set of defined properties whose combined value is unique and all properties in the set are present.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT constraint_name ON (n:Person) ASSERT (n.firstname, n.surname) IS NODE KEY
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Node key constraints added: 1

Create a node that complies with node key constraints

Create a Person node with both a firstname and surname property.

Query
CREATE (p:Person {firstname: 'John', surname: 'Wood', age: 55})
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Nodes created: 1
Properties set: 3
Labels added: 1

Create a node that violates a node key constraint

Trying to create a Person node without a surname property, given a node key constraint on :Person(firstname, surname), will fail.

Query
CREATE (p:Person {firstname: 'Jane', age: 34})

In this case the node isn’t created in the graph.

Error message
Node(0) with label `Person` must have the properties (firstname, surname)

Removing a NODE KEY-constrained property

Trying to remove the surname property from an existing node Person, given a NODE KEY constraint on :Person(firstname, surname).

Query
MATCH (p:Person {firstname: 'John', surname: 'Wood'}) REMOVE p.surname

In this case the property is not removed.

Error message
Node(0) with label `Person` must have the properties (firstname, surname)

Failure to create a node key constraint due to existing node

Trying to create a node key constraint on the property surname on nodes with the Person label will fail when a node without a surname already exists in the database.

Query
CREATE CONSTRAINT ON (n:Person) ASSERT (n.firstname, n.surname) IS NODE KEY

In this case the node key constraint can’t be created because it is violated by existing data. We may choose to remove the offending nodes and then re-apply the constraint.

Error message
Unable to create CONSTRAINT ON ( person:Person ) ASSERT exists(person.firstname,
person.surname):
Node(0) with label `Person` must have the properties (firstname, surname)

Drop a constraint

A constraint can be dropped using the name with the DROP CONSTRAINT constraint_name command. It is the same command for unique property, property existence and node key constraints.

Query
DROP CONSTRAINT constraint_name
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Named constraints removed: 1

List constraints

Calling the built-in procedure db.constraints will list all constraints, including their names.

Query
CALL db.constraints
Result
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| name                  | description                                                |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| "constraint_ca412c3d" | "CONSTRAINT ON ( book:Book ) ASSERT (book.isbn) IS UNIQUE" |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
1 row

Deprecated syntax

Drop a unique constraint

By using DROP CONSTRAINT, you remove a constraint from the database.

Query
DROP CONSTRAINT ON (book:Book) ASSERT book.isbn IS UNIQUE
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Unique constraints removed: 1

Drop a node property existence constraint

By using DROP CONSTRAINT, you remove a constraint from the database.

Query
DROP CONSTRAINT ON (book:Book) ASSERT exists(book.isbn)
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Property existence constraints removed: 1

Drop a relationship property existence constraint

To remove a constraint from the database, use DROP CONSTRAINT.

Query
DROP CONSTRAINT ON ()-[like:LIKED]-() ASSERT exists(like.day)
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Property existence constraints removed: 1

Drop a node key constraint

Use DROP CONSTRAINT to remove a node key constraint from the database.

Query
DROP CONSTRAINT ON (n:Person) ASSERT (n.firstname, n.surname) IS NODE KEY
Result
+-------------------+
| No data returned. |
+-------------------+
Node key constraints removed: 1