Supported optional GQL features

This page lists the optional GQL features Cypher® is either fully or partially conformant with.

Optional GQL features are assigned a feature ID code. These codes order the features in the table below.

GQL Feature ID Description Documentation Comment

GQL Feature ID	Description	Documentation	Comment
G002	Different-edges match mode	Relationship uniqueness in Cypher	The semantic for this feature is the default Cypher semantic.
G004	Path variables	Path patterns
G016	Any path search	`ANY`
G017	All shortest path search	`ALL SHORTEST`
G018	Any shortest path search	`ANY`
G019	Counted shortest path search	`SHORTEST`
G020	Counted shortest group search	`SHORTEST GROUPS`
G035	Quantified paths	Quantified path patterns
G036	Quantified edges	Quantified relationships
G043	Complete full edge patterns	Relationship patterns	Note the following: Cypher supports GQL’s directed forms (e.g. `()-[r]->()`) but not its tilde forms (e.g. `()~[r]~>()`). Cypher does not support GQL’s `()<-->()` (matches any direct edge regardless of its direction). In Cypher, this is written as `()--()`. In GQL `()--()` additionally matches undirected edges. Neo4j does not implement undirected relationships.
G050	Parenthesized path pattern: `WHERE` clause	Path patterns
G051	Parenthesized path pattern: non-local predicate	Graph patterns → Rules
G060	Bounded graph pattern quantifier	Quantifiers
G061	Unbounded graph pattern quantifier	Quantifiers
G074	Label expressions: wildcard label	Label expressions
GA06	Value type predicates	Type predicate expressions
GA07	Ordering by discarded binding variables	Graph patterns → Rules
GB01	Long identifiers	Naming rules and recommendations → Identifier length limit
GB03	Double solidus comments	Comments
GD02	Graph label set changes	`SET`
GD04	`DELETE` with simple expression	`DELETE`
GE07	Boolean `XOR`	Boolean operators	Cypher supports `XOR`, but with different operator precedence than GQL. Equivalent behavior is achieved when expressions are explicitly parenthesized.
GF01	Enhanced numeric functions	`abs()`, `floor()`, `sqrt()`. GQL uses `MOD()` for modulus. Cypher uses the `%` operator instead.	GQL supports `CEILING()` as a synonym for the `CEIL()` function. Cypher supports `ceil()`.
GF02	Trigonometric functions	`acos()`, `asin()`, `atan()`, `cos()`, `cot()`, `degrees()`, `radians()`, `tan()`
GF03	Logarithmic functions	`exp()`, `log10()`.	Note the following exceptions: Cypher uses the `log()` function instead of GQL’s `LN()` function. Cypher uses the exponentiation operator (`^`) instead of GQL’s `POWER()` function.
GF05	Multi-character trim functions	`btrim()`, `ltrim()`, `rtrim()`
GF06	Explicit `TRIM` function	`trim()`	In GQL, `TRIM()` removes only space characters. In Cypher, `trim()` removes any whitespace character.
GG01	Graph with open graph type
GL01	Hexadecimal literals	Boolean, numeric, and string literals: Numeric literals
GL02	Octal literals	Boolean, numeric, and string literals: Numeric literals
GP01	Inline procedure	`CALL` subqueries
GP03	Inline procedure with explicit nested variable scope	`CALL` subqueries → Variable scope clause
GP04	Named procedure calls	`CALL` procedure
GQ01	`USE` graph clause	`USE`	Cypher’s `USE` clause supports static graph references (e.g. `USE myComposite.myGraph`)and dynamic graph references (e.g. `USE graph.byName(<expression>)`). However, Cypher does not support GQL’s full graph reference syntax. For example, GQL’s graph reference values `CURRENT_GRAPH` and `CURRENT_PROPERTY_GRAPH` cannot be used in Cypher.
GQ03	Composite query: `UNION`	`UNION`
GQ13	`ORDER BY` and page statement: `LIMIT`	`LIMIT`, `ORDER BY`	Cypher requires using the `WITH` clause, which GQL does not.
GQ14	Complex expressions in sort keys	`ORDER BY`
GQ16	Pre-projection aliases in sort keys	`ORDER BY`
GQ22	`EXISTS` predicate: multiple `MATCH`	`EXISTS` subqueries
GV39	Temporal types: date, local datetime, and local time support	Temporal types, `date()`	Note the following exceptions: GQL defines a parameterless version of the `date()` function not in Cypher: `CURRENT_DATE`. * GQL defines the literal `DATE`. Cypher instead uses the `date()` function. GQL’s `LOCAL_TIME()` function is equivalent to Cypher’s `localtime()` function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: `LOCAL_TIME`. GQL’s `LOCAL_DATETIME()` function is equivalent to Cypher’s `localdatetime()` function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: `LOCAL_DATETIME`.
GV40	Temporal types: zoned datetime and zoned time support	Temporal types	Note the following exceptions: GQL’s `ZONED_TIME()` function is equivalent to Cypher’s `time()` function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: `CURRENT_TIME`. GQL’s `ZONED_DATETIME()` function is equivalent to Cypher’s `datetime()` function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: `CURRENT_TIMESTAMP`.
GV50	List value types	Lists
GV55	Path value types	Structural types → `PATH`
GV66	Open dynamic unions	Type predicate expressions → `ANY` and `NOTHING`
GV67	Closed dynamic unions	Closed dynamic unions
GV70	Immaterial value types: null type support (`null`)	Working with `null`
GV71	Immaterial value types: empty type support (`NOTHING`)]	Type predicate expressions → `ANY` and `NOTHING`

G002

Different-edges match mode

Relationship uniqueness in Cypher

The semantic for this feature is the default Cypher semantic.

G004

Path variables

Path patterns

G016

Any path search

ANY

G017

All shortest path search

ALL SHORTEST

G018

Any shortest path search

ANY

G019

Counted shortest path search

SHORTEST

G020

Counted shortest group search

SHORTEST GROUPS

G035

Quantified paths

Quantified path patterns

G036

Quantified edges

Quantified relationships

G043

Complete full edge patterns

Relationship patterns

Note the following:

Cypher supports GQL’s directed forms (e.g. ()-[r]->()) but not its tilde forms (e.g. ()~[r]~>()).
Cypher does not support GQL’s ()<-->() (matches any direct edge regardless of its direction). In Cypher, this is written as ()--().
In GQL ()--() additionally matches undirected edges. Neo4j does not implement undirected relationships.

G050

Parenthesized path pattern: WHERE clause

Path patterns

G051

Parenthesized path pattern: non-local predicate

Graph patterns → Rules

G060

Bounded graph pattern quantifier

Quantifiers

G061

Unbounded graph pattern quantifier

Quantifiers

G074

Label expressions: wildcard label

Label expressions

GA06

Value type predicates

Type predicate expressions

GA07

Ordering by discarded binding variables

Graph patterns → Rules

GB01

Long identifiers

Naming rules and recommendations → Identifier length limit

GB03

Double solidus comments

Comments

GD02

Graph label set changes

SET

GD04

DELETE with simple expression

DELETE

GE07

Boolean XOR

Boolean operators

Cypher supports XOR, but with different operator precedence than GQL. Equivalent behavior is achieved when expressions are explicitly parenthesized.

GF01

Enhanced numeric functions

abs(), floor(), sqrt(). GQL uses MOD() for modulus. Cypher uses the % operator instead.

GQL supports CEILING() as a synonym for the CEIL() function. Cypher supports ceil().

GF02

Trigonometric functions

acos(), asin(), atan(), cos(), cot(), degrees(), radians(), tan()

GF03

Logarithmic functions

exp(), log10().

Note the following exceptions:

Cypher uses the log() function instead of GQL’s LN() function.
Cypher uses the exponentiation operator (^) instead of GQL’s POWER() function.

GF05

Multi-character trim functions

btrim(), ltrim(), rtrim()

GF06

Explicit TRIM function

trim()

In GQL, TRIM() removes only space characters. In Cypher, trim() removes any whitespace character.

GG01

Graph with open graph type

GL01

Hexadecimal literals

Boolean, numeric, and string literals: Numeric literals

GL02

Octal literals

Boolean, numeric, and string literals: Numeric literals

GP01

Inline procedure

CALL subqueries

GP03

Inline procedure with explicit nested variable scope

CALL subqueries → Variable scope clause

GP04

Named procedure calls

CALL procedure

GQ01

USE graph clause

USE

Cypher’s USE clause supports static graph references (e.g. USE myComposite.myGraph)and dynamic graph references (e.g. USE graph.byName(<expression>)). However, Cypher does not support GQL’s full graph reference syntax. For example, GQL’s graph reference values CURRENT_GRAPH and CURRENT_PROPERTY_GRAPH cannot be used in Cypher.

GQ03

Composite query: UNION

UNION

GQ13

ORDER BY and page statement: LIMIT

LIMIT, ORDER BY

Cypher requires using the WITH clause, which GQL does not.

GQ14

Complex expressions in sort keys

ORDER BY

GQ16

Pre-projection aliases in sort keys

ORDER BY

GQ22

EXISTS predicate: multiple MATCH

EXISTS subqueries

GV39

Temporal types: date, local datetime, and local time support

Temporal types, date()

Note the following exceptions:

GQL defines a parameterless version of the date() function not in Cypher: CURRENT_DATE.
* GQL defines the literal DATE. Cypher instead uses the date() function. GQL’s LOCAL_TIME() function is equivalent to Cypher’s localtime() function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: LOCAL_TIME.
GQL’s LOCAL_DATETIME() function is equivalent to Cypher’s localdatetime() function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: LOCAL_DATETIME.

GV40

Temporal types: zoned datetime and zoned time support

Temporal types

Note the following exceptions:

GQL’s ZONED_TIME() function is equivalent to Cypher’s time() function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: CURRENT_TIME.
GQL’s ZONED_DATETIME() function is equivalent to Cypher’s datetime() function. GQL also defines a parameterless version of the function not in Cypher: CURRENT_TIMESTAMP.

GV50

List value types

Lists

GV55

Path value types

Structural types → PATH

GV66

Open dynamic unions

Type predicate expressions → ANY and NOTHING

GV67

Closed dynamic unions

GV70

Immaterial value types: null type support (null)

Working with null

GV71

Immaterial value types: empty type support (NOTHING)]

Type predicate expressions → ANY and NOTHING

Cypher and GQL sometimes name functions differently and, as a result, several Cypher functions offer the same (or very similar) functionality to their GQL counterpart. For more information, see the page Optional GQL features and analogous Cypher.