neo4j-vector-index-skill

When to Use

• Creating a vector index (CREATE VECTOR INDEX) on nodes or relationships
• Running vector similarity / nearest-neighbor search
• Storing embeddings on graph nodes during ingestion
• Indexing/querying embeddings already written by GDS algorithms
• Choosing similarity function, dimensions, HNSW params, or quantization
• Using SEARCH clause (2026.01+) or db.index.vector.queryNodes() (2025.x)
• Batch-updating embeddings after model change
• Combining vector results with immediate graph neighborhood (full retrieval_query pipelines → neo4j-graphrag-skill)
• Hybrid search that combines vector results with fulltext or other ranked sources

When NOT to Use

• GraphRAG pipelines (VectorCypherRetriever, HybridCypherRetriever, retrieval_query) → neo4j-graphrag-skill
• Fulltext-only / keyword-only search (FULLTEXT INDEX, db.index.fulltext.queryNodes) → neo4j-cypher-skill
• Computing GDS graph embeddings (FastRP, Node2Vec, GraphSAGE) → neo4j-gds-skill
• Index admin (list all indexes, drop range/text/lookup indexes) → neo4j-cypher-skill

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Pre-flight — Determine Version

Drives syntax choice:

CALL dbms.components() YIELD versions RETURN versions[0] AS neo4j_version

Version	Use
2026.01 or higher	SEARCH clause (in-index filtering, preferred)
2025.x	db.index.vector.queryNodes() procedure (deprecated 2026.04 — use SEARCH when on 2026.x)

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Step 1 — Create Vector Index

Node index (single label):

CYPHER 25
CREATE VECTOR INDEX chunk_embedding IF NOT EXISTS
FOR (c:Chunk) ON (c.embedding)
OPTIONS {
  indexConfig: {
    `vector.dimensions`: 1536,
    `vector.similarity_function`: 'cosine',
    `vector.quantization.type`: 'SCALAR',
    `vector.hnsw.m`: 16,
    `vector.hnsw.ef_construction`: 100
  }
}

Node index with filterable properties [2026.01+] — WITH declares which properties can be used in SEARCH ... WHERE:

CYPHER 25
CREATE VECTOR INDEX chunk_embedding IF NOT EXISTS
FOR (c:Chunk) ON (c.embedding)
WITH [c.source, c.lang, c.published_year]  // stored as metadata; filterable in SEARCH WHERE
OPTIONS { indexConfig: { `vector.dimensions`: 1536, `vector.similarity_function`: 'cosine' } }