# neo4j

Enforces Cypher 25 query conventions and graph schema modeling standards in Neo4j, focusing on parameterization, index usage, and strict casing.

- rule · `type=rule` · Cursor · ★ 3580
- Author: sanjeed5
- License: CC0-1.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/sanjeed5/awesome-cursor-rules-mdc/tree/HEAD/rules-mdc/neo4j.mdc
- Updated: 2026-05-19
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/rules/neo4j

## What it does

This rule sets structured conventions for Neo4j development. It standardizes naming across graph elements: node labels require `PascalCase`, relationship types use `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE`, while property keys and variables stay in `camelCase`. Direct string concatenation is strictly forbidden. The rule mandates passing dynamic inputs via parameters like `$userId` to ensure query plan caching and eliminate Cypher injection risks. Hot traversals must return map projections rather than raw nodes to minimize data transfer.

All recommendations target Cypher 25 syntax. If your project still runs on Neo4j 5.x, newer DDL constructs like property type constraints will fail schema initialization.

## Install

### Cursor (native platform)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/rules/neo4j.mdc` — Frontmatter: description, globs, alwaysApply

### Claude Code

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.claude/rules/neo4j.md` — The paths frontmatter field limits the files: move globs from the source into paths

### Codex

**AGENTS.md**
- Codex reads AGENTS.md: paste the rule text there

### GitHub Copilot

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/instructions/neo4j.instructions.md` — The applyTo field sets which files it applies to: move globs from the source into applyTo

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/rules/neo4j.md`

### Cline

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.clinerules/neo4j.md`

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/sanjeed5/awesome-cursor-rules-mdc/tree/HEAD/rules-mdc/neo4j.mdc

## When to use it
- Prevent Cypher injection attacks by enforcing parameterized inputs
- Standardize casing across node labels, relationship types, and properties
- Cut down payload sizes using native map projections instead of full nodes
- Declare schema constraints and property types tailored for Cypher 25

## Example prompts
- Write a parameterized Cypher query to retrieve user details using map projection
- Set up DDL constraints and property types for a Person node in Cypher 25
- Add a PROFILE clause to this graph traversal query to check index coverage

## Source text · neo4j.mdc · CC0-1.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 6176e05e352a90d0.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 6176e05e352a90d0
````text
---
description: This guide defines the definitive best practices for writing Cypher queries and modeling data in Neo4j, ensuring readability, performance, and security for all team projects.
globs: **/*
---
# neo4j Best Practices

This document outlines the mandatory guidelines for developing with Neo4j. Adhering to these rules ensures our Cypher queries are performant, secure, and maintainable.

## 1. Code Organization and Structure

### 1.1. Standardize Naming Conventions

Consistency is paramount. Use the recommended casing for all identifiers to prevent subtle bugs due to Cypher's case-sensitivity.

*   **Node Labels:** `PascalCase`
*   **Relationship Types:** `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE`
*   **Property Keys:** `camelCase`
*   **Variables:** `camelCase`

**❌ BAD:**
```cypher
MATCH (p:person)-[r:friend_of]->(f:Friend)
WHERE p.first_name = 'Alice'
RETURN f.last_name
```

**✅ GOOD:**
```cypher
MATCH (p:Person)-[r:FRIEND_OF]->(f:Person)
WHERE p.firstName = 'Alice'
RETURN f.lastName
```

### 1.2. Escape Special Characters Judiciously

Only use backticks (`` ` ``) when an identifier *must* contain special characters, spaces, or start with a non-alphabetic character. Avoid them otherwise to keep queries clean.

**❌ BAD:**
```cypher
MATCH (`my node`:`User Label`)
WHERE `my node`.`user-id` = 123
RETURN `my node`.`user-name`
```

**✅ GOOD:**
```cypher
MATCH (u:User)
WHERE u.userId = 123
RETURN u.userName
```
*If a special character is truly unavoidable:*
```cypher
MATCH (n:`1stUser`)
WHERE n.`user-id` = 123
RETURN n.userName
```

### 1.3. Always Use Cypher 25

New features and performance improvements are exclusively added to Cypher 25. Avoid older versions like 5.x.

## 2. Data Modeling

### 2.1. Design for Query-Ability

Model your graph around the most common traversals and business questions. Prioritize relationships that directly answer real-world queries over mimicking relational schemas.

**❌ BAD:** (Relational thinking, too many properties on nodes, generic relationships)
```cypher
// Modeling a "User" and their "Address" as separate nodes, but linking them generically
CREATE (u:User {id: 'u1', name: 'Alice'})
CREATE (a:Address {id: 'a1', street: '123 Main St', city: 'Anytown'})
CREATE (u)-[:HAS]->(a) // Generic relationship
```

**✅ GOOD:** (Graph-native, explicit relationship type, Address properties on User if 1:1)
```cypher
// If Address is always tied to a User and not shared, keep properties on the User node.
// If Address can be shared or has complex relationships, make it a node with a specific relationship.
CREATE (u:User {userId: 'u1', name: 'Alice', street: '123 Main St', city: 'Anytown'})

// If Address is a separate entity (e.g., shared by multiple users, or has its own complex relationships)
CREATE (u:User {userId: 'u1', name: 'Alice'})
CREATE (a:Address {addressId: 'a1', street: '123 Main St', city: 'Anytown'})
CREATE (u)-[:LIVES_AT]->(a) // Specific relationship type
```

### 2.2. Leverage Constraints for Data Integrity

Enforce uniqueness, existence, and type constraints on key properties. This ensures data quality and automatically creates backing indexes for performance.

**❌ BAD:** (No constraints, allowing duplicate or missing critical data)
```cypher
CREATE (p:Person {email: 'alice@example.com'})
CREATE (p:Person {email: 'alice@example.com'}) // Duplicate allowed
```

**✅ GOOD:** (Unique constraint on email, existence constraint on name)
```cypher
// Run these DDL statements once during schema setup
CREATE CONSTRAINT FOR (p:Person) REQUIRE p.email IS UNIQUE;
CREATE CONSTRAINT FOR (p:Person) REQUIRE p.name IS NOT NULL;
CREATE CONSTRAINT FOR (p:Person) REQUIRE p.age IS OF TYPE INTEGER; // Cypher 25 type constraint

// Now, duplicate email will fail, and missing name will fail
CREATE (p:Person {email: 'alice@example.com', name: 'Alice', age: 30})
```

## 3. Common Patterns and Anti-patterns

### 3.1. Always Use Parameters for Dynamic Values
````
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