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## 16.6. Return

In the return part of your query, you define which parts of the pattern you are interested in. It can be nodes, relationships, or properties on these.

Graph

### 16.6.1. Return nodes

To return a node, list it in the return statemenet.

Query

    START n=node(2)
    RETURN n

The node.

Result

n
1 rows, 0 ms
`Node[2]{name->"B"}`

### 16.6.2. Return relationships

To return a relationship, just include it in the return list.

Query

    START n=node(1)
    MATCH (n)-[r:KNOWS]->(c)
    RETURN r

The relationship.

Result

r
1 rows, 1 ms
`:KNOWS[0] {}`

### 16.6.3. Return property

To return a property, use the dot separator, like this:

Query

    START n=node(1)
    RETURN n.name

The the value of the property name.

Result

n.name
1 rows, 0 ms
`A`

### 16.6.4. Identifier with uncommon characters

To introduce a placeholder that is made up of characters that are outside of the english alphabet, you can use the ``` to enclose the identifier, like this:

Query

    START `This isn't a common identifier`=node(1)
    RETURN `This isn't a common identifier`.`<<!!__??>>`

The node indexed with name "A" is returned

Result

This isn't a common identifier.<<!!__??>>
1 rows, 0 ms
`Yes!`

### 16.6.5. Optional properties

If a property might or might not be there, you can select it optionally by adding a questionmark to the identifier, like this:

Query

    START n=node(1, 2)
    RETURN n.age?

The age when the node has that property, or `null` if the property is not there.

Result

n.age
2 rows, 0 ms
`55`
`<null>`

### 16.6.6. Unique results

`DISTINCT` retrieves only unique rows depending on the columns that have been selected to output.

Query

    START a=node(1)
    MATCH (a)-->(b)
    RETURN distinct b

The node named B, but only once.

Result

b
1 rows, 1 ms
`Node[2]{name->"B"}`

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