reification - Neo4j: How to model relationship properties that are nodes? -

reification - Neo4j: How to model relationship properties that are nodes? -

suppose have simple relationship

create (a:company { name:"apple" })-[:buys]->(b:company { name:"beats" })

now want collect metadata on :buys relationship - user created relationship , sources confirm this. create new node , connect other nodes it:

match (a:company { name:"apple" }),(b:company { name:"beats" }) create a-[:is_buyer]->(ab:buyout { name:"apple-beats" })<-[:is_seller]-b match (u:user { name:"fred" }),(n1:newspaper { name:"washington post" }), (n2:newspaper { name:"financial times" }),(ab:buyout { name:"apple-beats" }) create u-[:created]->ab<-[:confirmed_by]-n1,ab-[:confirmed_by]->n2

now have several questions:

since in cases queries interested in :buys relationship, leave intact , improve performance queries, right? are there other, improve ways model this? what way generate name/id materialized node? is there way cascade deletion of :buys relationship corresponding :buyout node?

for sure can maintain :buys relationship. should first check if next (company)-[:is_buyer]->()<-[:is_seller]-(other) slow regarding requirements. do premature optimization. if relationship needs referenced 'thing' in domain, should refactored node - modelling approach here. you don't need set properties on intermediate node if don't create sense domain perspective no, neo4j not have cascading behaviour. needs implemented on application level.

neo4j reification