15.21. Delete

15.21.1. Delete single node
15.21.2. Remove a node and connected relationships
15.21.3. Remove a property

Removing graph elements — nodes, relationships and properties, is done with DELETE.

15.21.1. Delete single node

To remove a node from the graph, you can delete it with the DELETE clause.

Query

START n = node(4)
DELETE n

Nothing is returned from this query, except the count of affected nodes.

Result

Nodes deleted: 1
0 ms

(empty result)


15.21.2. Remove a node and connected relationships

If you are trying to remove a node with relationships on it, you have to remove these as well.

Query

START n = node(3)
MATCH n-[r]-()
DELETE n, r

Nothing is returned from this query, except the count of affected nodes.

Result

Nodes deleted: 1
Relationships deleted: 2
2 ms

(empty result)


15.21.3. Remove a property

Neo4j doesn’t allow storing null in properties. Instead, if no value exists, the property is just not there. So, to remove a property value on a node or a relationship, is also done with DELETE.

Query

START andres = node(3)
DELETE andres.age
RETURN andres

The node is returned, and no property age exists on it.

Result

andres
1 row
Properties set: 1
2 ms

Node[3]{name:"Andres"}