SQL - CREATE VERTEX

Creates a new vertex in the database.

The Vertex and Edge are the main components of a Graph database. ArcadeDB supports polymorphism on vertices.

Syntax

CREATE VERTEX [<type>] [BUCKET <bucket>]
  [SET <field> = <expression>[,]*]|
  [CONTENT {<JSON>}|[{<JSON>}[,]*]]

  • <type> Defines the type to which the vertex belongs.

  • <bucket> Defines the bucket in which it stores the vertex.

  • <field> Defines the field you want to set.

  • <expression> Defines the express to set for the field.

When using a distributed database, you can create vertices through two steps (creation and update). Doing so can break constraints defined at the type-level for vertices. To avoid these issues, disable constraints in the vertex type.

Examples

  • Create a new vertex type, then create a vertex in that type:

ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX TYPE V1
ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX V1

  • Create a new vertex within a particular bucket:

ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX V1 BUCKET recent

  • Create a new vertex, defining its properties:

ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX SET brand = 'fiat'

  • Create a new vertex of the type V1, defining its properties:

ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX V1 SET brand = 'fiat', name = 'wow'

  • Create a vertex using JSON content:

ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX Employee CONTENT { "name" : "Jay", "surname" : "Miner" }

  • Create multiple vertices using JSON content:

ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX Employee CONTENT [{"name" : "Jay", "surname" : "Miner"},
            {"name": "Frank", "surname": "Hermier"},{"name": "Emily", "surname": "Sout"}]

Idempotent vertex creation (upsert)

CREATE VERTEX does not have an UPSERT clause. To create a vertex only if it does not already exist, or update it otherwise, use the UPDATE …​ UPSERT command against the vertex type. When the target type is a vertex type, UPSERT creates a real vertex (not a plain document), so it can be used as the endpoint of an edge right away.

The lookup must be backed by a UNIQUE index on the property used in the WHERE clause; this is what makes the operation atomic under concurrent writers.

ArcadeDB> CREATE VERTEX TYPE Person
ArcadeDB> CREATE PROPERTY Person.email STRING
ArcadeDB> CREATE INDEX ON Person (email) UNIQUE

ArcadeDB> UPDATE Person SET name = 'Luca', email = '[email protected]'
            UPSERT WHERE email = '[email protected]'

Re-running the same UPDATE …​ UPSERT updates the existing vertex instead of creating a duplicate. See UPDATE for the full syntax and the upsert limitations.

For more information, see: