GraphAcademy
Course · Part of Sharpen your Cypher

Graph Data Modeling Fundamentals

Design graph data models for Neo4j using proven best practices. Turn questions into nodes, relationships, and properties that scale.

2 hours18 lessons across 3 modules
CypherSharpen your CypherData EngineerFoundationalBuild a Neo4j-backed ApplicationPath to Neo4j CertificationBuild with No-Code Aura Tools
About this course

In this 2-hour course, you will learn

In this course you will learn how to design a graph data modelThe labels, relationship types and properties chosen to represent a domain. that answers the questions your application needs to ask.

You will build a model for your own use case, test it against real data, refactor it to close the gaps you find, and extend it to cover unstructured content and the vocabulary that keeps a growing model consistent. By the end, you will export your finished model and take it into your own Neo4j AuraDBThe Aura product for transactional workloads. instance.

  • Building a Domain Graph

    Model your own use case as nodes and relationships, applying the golden rule to decide what becomes a node, a relationship, or a property.

  • Testing and Refactoring the Model

    Add sample data, test your model against real questions, and apply refactoring patterns to close the gaps you find.

  • From Domain Graph to Knowledge Graph

    Extend your model with lexical and entity graphs for unstructured content, apply ontology thinking as it grows, and export your finished model to take with you.

Course content

3 modules, 2 hours.

  1. 6 lessons
    1. What is Graph Data Modeling?5 min
    2. Explore an Existing Model5 min
    3. Modeling Nodes5 min
    4. Modeling Relationships5 min
    5. Define Your Nodes and Relationships5 min
    6. Your Base Model5 min
  2. 7 lessons
    1. Testing a Data Model5 min
    2. Add Sample Data to Your Model5 min
    3. Asking the Right Questions5 min
    4. Define and Test Your Questions5 min
    5. Refactoring Patterns5 min
    6. Refactor Your Model5 min
    7. Retest Your Model5 min
  3. 5 lessons
    1. Lexical and Entity Graphs5 min
    2. Extend Your Model with Unstructured Data5 min
    3. Ontologies5 min
    4. Apply Ontology Thinking to Your Model5 min
    5. Take Your Model With You5 min
Where to next

Keep going on Sharpen your Cypher.

View the full path
Up next in path

Importing Data Fundamentals

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Later in path

Intermediate Cypher Queries

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Cypher Aggregations

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Further reading

Posts from the GraphAcademy blog.

6 min read

How Many Connected Four-Letter Words Are There?

I loaded 7,186 four-letter words into Neo4j, linked every pair one letter apart, and used SHORTEST to solve word ladders.

Martin O'HanlonRead post
5 min read

Setting and checking property types in Neo4j

Neo4j property types are whatever the last write said they were. Type predicates and constraints fix that - once you know the null gotcha.

Adam CowleyRead post
5 min read

My five favorite cards in Aura Dashboards

When Dashboards first became available in Aura, I started to move my reporting away from custom tools. Here are the five cards I use the most, and a Cypher statement behind them.

Adam CowleyRead post