Linkurious expands support for Amazon Neptune with an OpenCypher connector

While our connector with Amazon Neptune graph database has already enabled a variety of organizations to visualize and investigate their graph data, the addition of OpenCypher support - one of the most popular query languages - opens new avenues for technical and non-technical users leveraging Amazon Neptune combined with Linkurious’ graph visualization and analytics tools.

Neptune is Amazon’s managed graph database service, designed to support scalable, high-performance graph querying. Until now, the existing integration between Amazon Neptune and Linkurious technology had enabled users to tap into the power of Amazon’s graph database, using the Gremlin query language only.

By supporting OpenCypher, Linkurious adds a layer of accessibility and power, as it is a highly expressive and intuitive query language, often described as the “SQL for graph databases.”

• Familiar, SQL-like syntax: OpenCypher’s SQL-inspired syntax provides an accessible and expressive language for defining and executing complex graph queries. For teams already familiar with SQL, Cypher or GQL, this familiarity minimizes the learning curve and accelerates graph query adoption.
• Simplified query optimization: OpenCypher is designed for performance and ease of use, making it easier to write, optimize, and run efficient queries, especially for non-technical users. 
• Efficient querying for rich insights: OpenCypher enables advanced pattern-matching capabilities, allowing data scientists and analysts to explore intricate data relationships and quickly reveal actionable insights. Whether looking for fraud rings or mapping dependencies within networks, combining OpenCypher’s expressiveness with the ease of use of Linkurious graph visualization and analytics interface opens new avenues for automated pattern detection and advanced data analysis.

Amazon Neptune is unique as it supports multiple graph query languages including OpenCypher and Gremlin. Each language brings distinct advantages, allowing users to select the one that best fits their technical needs and use case requirements—or even leverage both in tandem.

Gremlin is an imperative query language often preferred by developers and technical users because it offers fine-grained and low-level control on the execution flow of a graph query. The level of control lets users optimize and tune expensive queries. Gremlin might also be preferred by people who are used to functional programming.

Originally developed by Neo4j, then open-sourced in 2015, OpenCypher is a declarative language with a syntax inspired by SQL, often preferred for pattern-matching queries.

Its focus is on expressiveness and simplicity, which allows users to define patterns within the graph they’re interested in without specifying each step. OpenCypher’s intuitive syntax makes it highly accessible, enabling users to easily query, filter, and explore complex relationships without diving into procedural traversal details. OpenCypher and Cypher closely resemble GQL, the new ISO standard for graph queries. 

By supporting both OpenCypher and Gremlin, Amazon Neptune provides a versatile environment where users can leverage the strengths of each language. For example, technical users might use Gremlin for deep path traversal in cases where granular control is necessary, then switch to OpenCypher to retrieve or filter high-level patterns within the same dataset. This synergy gives organizations flexibility, allowing teams with different needs to work seamlessly within a single Neptune graph database, maximizing the power of both query languages in one unified platform.

Whether you’re a data scientist crafting complex queries or a business user looking to make sense of connected data, Linkurious’ enhanced support for Neptune graph database offers a more powerful, accessible, and collaborative way to uncover insights. Start your journey with Linkurious and Amazon Neptune today, and transform the way your organization visualizes and interacts with data.