Path Queries in WOQL

What you'll achieve By the end of this guide, you will know how to traverse graph paths using WOQL path queries.

Prerequisites: TerminusDB running on localhost:6363 with the Star Wars dataset cloned. If you haven't done this yet, follow the Explore a Real Dataset tutorial (Steps 1–2), or run:
curl -u admin:root -X POST http://localhost:6363/api/clone/admin/star-wars \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization-Remote: Basic cHVibGljOnB1YmxpYw==" \
  -d '{"remote_url": "https://data.terminusdb.org/public/star-wars", "label": "Star Wars", "comment": "Star Wars dataset"}'

How to use `path`

TerminusDB gives us path queries which allow us to succinctly express chains of relationships.

The path keyword allows you to find a path through the graph traversing intermediate edges. An example would be finding a group of individuals who have at some point shared a vehicle as a pilot or piloted another vehicle that in turn was shared with someone. This is a transitive relationship and will explore the entire graph.

For instance

Example: JavaScript

let v = Vars("person1", "person2");
path(v.person1, "(<pilot,pilot>)+", v.person2)

This path means we follow the pilot field backwards (because of the < arrow), to the vehicle of which the person is a pilot and then follow it forwards pilot> any number of times but at least once which is what the + means.

The path itself can also be returned by adding another field, as so:

Example: JavaScript

let v = Vars("person1", "person2", "path");
path(v.person1, "(<pilot,pilot>)+", v.person2, v.path)

This can be inspected to understand the manner in which we got from person1 to person2.

How to use path

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How to use `path`