Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
What is Graph in Redis?
3.
Limitations of Graph in Redis
4.
Frequently Asked Questions
4.1.
Is Redis a Graph database?
4.2.
Is RedisGraph open source?
4.3.
Is RedisGraph distributed?
4.4.
What is the limitation of Redis?
4.5.
What happens when Redis runs out of memory?
5.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Aug 13, 2025

Limitations of Graph in Redis

Author Prakriti
0 upvote

Introduction

Redis is a beautiful open-source data-structure store used as a database, streaming engine, cache, etc. It performs exceptionally well as it is an in-memory database. Redis provides multiple data structures like lists, strings, sets, etc. Redis stack server allows us to build applications with searchable JSON, graph data models, time series, etc. Let us dive deeper into Graph in Redis.

Redis

What is Graph in Redis?

RedisGraph is a graph database built using Redis. This database uses sparse adjacency matrix representation of graphs using GraphBlas. Feel feel to study more about GraphBlas here.

The prominent features of RedisGraph are -

  • Nodes can have multiple labels.
  • It is based on the property graph model. Read more about the property graph model here.
  • It uses sparse adjacency matrix representation for graphs.
  • The relationships contain relationship types.
  • The query language is Cypher.
  • Cypher queries are translated into linear algebraic expressions.

To know more about the hands-on experience of RedisGraph, check out this link.

Limitations of Graph in Redis

The limitations of Graph in Redis are :

  • The uniqueness of relationships in patterns
    Suppose a relation of a match pattern is not referenced anywhere else in the query. In that case, RedisGraph will only check whether that relation exists in the query or not rather than checking every matching relation.
    This leads to abnormal behavior in some queries.
    For example, consider a graph with two nodes and relations.

    CREATE (a)-[:e {val: '1'}]->(b), (a)-[:e {val: '2'}]->(b)

    If we count the number of explicit edges in the graph, we get two.
    But, if we count the number of nodes present in the pattern without mentioning the relation, we get one.
    Research is going on to solve this problem so that it doesn’t downgrade the performance.
     
  • No effect of the LIMIT clause on eager operations
    If a WITH or RETURN clause brigns in a LIMIT value, then that value should be appreciated by the preceding operations.
    But it is not the case, and hence all eager operations like MERGE, SET, CREATE, etc., are affected due to this. 
     
  • Indexing Limitations
    The current implementation of the index does not include not-equal (<>) filters. RedisGraph can optimize its queries when a filter is mentioned on an indexed label-property pair using index scans.
    To check whether index optimizations have been introduced and to profile a query, we can use GRAPH.EXPLAIN endpoint.
     

You can also read about the memory hierarchy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Redis a Graph database?

Yes, Redis is a graph database.

Is RedisGraph open source?

Yes, Redis is open source, but higher-valued modules are now under a commercial agreement.

Is RedisGraph distributed?

No, RedisGraph is not a distributed graph system.

What is the limitation of Redis?

Redis is a data structure server and hence does not support query relational algebra and no query language.

What happens when Redis runs out of memory?

When Redis runs out of memory, it throws errors on writing commands.

Conclusion

This article discussed the limitations of Graph in Redis.

Hoping this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge regarding the limitations of Graph in Redis. To know more about Redis, check out this link. To learn more about IoT, view our blog, curated by experts.

Check out this problem - Matrix Median

Check out our fantastic interview preparation course for your dream companies and a complete preparation guide.

Upvote our blog to help other ninjas grow! 

Happy Learning!!

Live masterclass