The ISO has released the ISO/IEC 39075:2024 standard for the GQL language for querying graph databases at the beginning of April. This language extension is derived from the SQL standard, which already defines various data types. In the GQL standard, there are additional definitions for processing vertices and edges, providing a framework for viewing data in graph databases.
Within the standard, query formats are divided into two types: Cypher, taken from Neo4j, and SQL, led by TigerGraph. However, the structures internally are similar, differing mainly in syntax. The approach of GQL allows querying data in a graph based on the type of vertex and the data within it, then finding how they are linked to other vertices through edges of a specific type using pattern matching. Users can query multiple interconnected layers in a single query.
The standard is thick, covering 628 pages and must be purchased for 217 Swiss Francs, but there is a 7-page summary document introducing the features for easier reading.
TLDR: The ISO introduces the ISO/IEC 39075:2024 standard for the GQL language, enhancing query capabilities in graph databases.
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