Which is a feature of a graph query language?

The fundamental purpose of a graph query language, such as Property Graph Query Language (PGQL), is to find data that conforms to a specific structural arrangement of vertices (nodes) and edges (relationships). This is known as pattern matching. Users define a pattern in a query's MATCH clause, and the database engine searches the graph for all subgraphs that match this specified pattern. This capability is the defining characteristic that distinguishes graph query languages from other types of database query languages like SQL.

A. Run key-value queries: This is the primary function of a key-value store database, not a graph database. Graph queries focus on relationships, not simple key lookups.
B. Scripting language: Graph query languages are typically declarative (like SQL), focusing on what data to retrieve, not how. They are not general-purpose scripting languages.
C. Object-oriented language: Graph query languages are specialized for data retrieval from graphs, not for general application development like object-oriented languages (e.g., Java, C++).

1. Oracle Property Graph Developer's Guide

23c. In the introduction to the Property Graph Query Language (PGQL)

the documentation states

"The language is based on the concept of graph pattern matching

which is a powerful and intuitive way of expressing graph traversals and graph patterns."

Reference: Oracle Property Graph Developer's Guide

23c

Chapter 2

Section 2.1 "About PGQL".

2. van Rest

O.

et al. (2016). "PGQL: A Property Graph Query Language." This peer-reviewed academic paper

which introduces PGQL

explicitly defines its core functionality. The abstract states

"The language is based on graph pattern matching

which is a popular and intuitive way of expressing graph traversals and complex structural patterns."

Reference: Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Management of Data (SIGMOD '16)

page 2257. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2882903.2903748.

3. Oracle Property Graph Developer's Guide

23c. The guide further details the central role of pattern matching: "The core of PGQL is graph pattern matching. You can specify graph patterns in the MATCH clause of a SELECT query."

Reference: Oracle Property Graph Developer's Guide

23c

Chapter 2

Section 2.2 "Graph Pattern Matching".