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Conditional expressions

This topic describes the conditional functions supported by NebulaGraph.

CASE

The CASE expression uses conditions to filter the result of an nGQL query statement. It is usually used in the YIELD and RETURN clauses. nGQL provides two forms of CASE expressions just like openCypher: the simple form and the generic form.

The CASE expression will traverse all the conditions. When the first condition is met, the CASE expression stops reading the conditions and returns the result. If no conditions are met, it returns the result in the ELSE clause. If there is no ELSE clause and no conditions are met, it returns NULL.

The simple form of CASE expressions

  • Syntax
CASE <comparer>
WHEN <value> THEN <result>
[WHEN ...]
[ELSE <default>]
END

Caution

Always remember to end the CASE expression with an END.

Parameter Description
comparer A value or a valid expression that outputs a value. This value is used to compare with the value.
value It will be compared with the comparer. If the value matches the comparer, then this condition is met.
result The result is returned by the CASE expression if the value matches the comparer.
default The default is returned by the CASE expression if no conditions are met.
  • Examples
nebula> RETURN \
        CASE 2+3 \
        WHEN 4 THEN 0 \
        WHEN 5 THEN 1 \
        ELSE -1 \
        END \
        AS result;
+--------+
| result |
+--------+
| 1      |
+--------+
nebula> GO FROM "player100" OVER follow \
        YIELD properties($$).name AS Name, \
        CASE properties($$).age > 35 \
        WHEN true THEN "Yes" \
        WHEN false THEN "No" \
        ELSE "Nah" \
        END \
        AS Age_above_35;
+-----------------+--------------+
| Name            | Age_above_35 |
+-----------------+--------------+
| "Tony Parker"   | "Yes"        |
| "Manu Ginobili" | "Yes"        |
+-----------------+--------------+

The generic form of CASE expressions

  • Syntax
CASE
WHEN <condition> THEN <result>
[WHEN ...]
[ELSE <default>]
END
Parameter Description
condition If the condition is evaluated as true, the result is returned by the CASE expression.
result The result is returned by the CASE expression if the condition is evaluated as true.
default The default is returned by the CASE expression if no conditions are met.
  • Examples
nebula> YIELD \
        CASE WHEN 4 > 5 THEN 0 \
        WHEN 3+4==7 THEN 1 \
        ELSE 2 \
        END \
        AS result;
+--------+
| result |
+--------+
| 1      |
+--------+
nebula> MATCH (v:player) WHERE v.player.age > 30 \
        RETURN v.player.name AS Name,  \
        CASE \
        WHEN v.player.name STARTS WITH "T" THEN "Yes" \
        ELSE "No" \
        END \
        AS Starts_with_T;
+---------------------+---------------+
| Name                | Starts_with_T |
+---------------------+---------------+
| "Tim"               | "Yes"         |
| "LaMarcus Aldridge" | "No"          |
| "Tony Parker"       | "Yes"         |
+---------------------+---------------+

Differences between the simple form and the generic form

To avoid the misuse of the simple form and the generic form, it is important to understand their differences. The following example can help explain them.

nebula> GO FROM "player100" OVER follow \
        YIELD properties($$).name AS Name, properties($$).age AS Age, \
        CASE properties($$).age \
        WHEN properties($$).age > 35 THEN "Yes" \
        ELSE "No" \
        END \
        AS Age_above_35;
+-----------------+-----+--------------+
| Name            | Age | Age_above_35 |
+-----------------+-----+--------------+
| "Tony Parker"   | 36  | "No"         |
| "Manu Ginobili" | 41  | "No"         |
+-----------------+-----+--------------+

The preceding GO query is intended to output Yes when the player's age is above 35. However, in this example, when the player's age is 36, the actual output is not as expected: It is No instead of Yes.

This is because the query uses the CASE expression in the simple form, and a comparison between the values of $$.player.age and $$.player.age > 35 is made. When the player age is 36:

  • The value of $$.player.age is 36. It is an integer.
  • $$.player.age > 35 is evaluated to be true. It is a boolean.

The values of $$.player.age and $$.player.age > 35 do not match. Therefore, the condition is not met and No is returned.

coalesce()

coalesce() returns the first not null value in all expressions.

Syntax: coalesce(<expression_1>[,<expression_2>...])

  • Result type: Same as the original element.

Example:

nebula> RETURN coalesce(null,[1,2,3]) as result;
+-----------+
| result    |
+-----------+
| [1, 2, 3] |
+-----------+
nebula> RETURN coalesce(null) as result;
+-----------+
| result    |
+-----------+
| NULL      |
+-----------+

Last update: February 1, 2023