--- title: relate query description: "relate, the embedded Cypher graph database (relatedb.ai): The relate query command with its three session forms, every query-run flag, output modes in brief, parameters, read-only opens, timeouts and exit codes." type: reference surfaces: - cli status: stable verified: 0.1.2 verified_by: - cli canonical_url: https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/query/ prerequisites: [] related: - reference/cli/flags#query-run-flags - reference/cli/output-modes - reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors - reference/cli/dot-commands - guides/cli/scripting - guides/cli/interactive-shell last_updated: 2026-11-09 --- # relate query The relate query command with its three session forms, every query-run flag, output modes in brief, parameters, read-only opens, timeouts and exit codes. > Verified against relate 0.1.2. If your `relate --version` is newer, read https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/changelog/#since-0.1.2 `relate query` runs a statement session against one store: the statements given as an argument, a script read from stdin, or the interactive shell. It takes every query-run flag. The path-first form, `relate [OPTIONS] [QUERY]`, runs the same session with the same flags; the one difference is that it never reads a script from stdin. Without `--database`, the store is `:memory:`, which is gone when the process exits. A [query](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/glossary/#query), in these docs, is a statement that reads; the command runs writes too. ## Synopsis ```text relate query [STATEMENT] [--database PATH] ``` | Part | Meaning | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `STATEMENT` | One Cypher [statement](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/glossary/#statement), or a list separated by `;`. Optional. `-c` and `--command` are the flag spelling of the same argument | | `--database PATH` | The store: a directory, a path ending in `.rl`, or `:memory:` (the default). Never a URL; a remote store is a `--load` source. Short form `-d` | | `OPTIONS` | Any query-run flag, before or after `STATEMENT` ([Options](#options)) | The word `query` is the command when it is the first positional argument, before or after flags; a later positional `query` is an unexpected argument (exit code 2). A directory named `query` is `--database ./query`. ## Options `relate query` takes the query-run flags, the same set as the path-first form. A flag beats its environment variable, which beats the built-in default. Flags may come before or after the statement, a flag's value is the next argument (`--mode envelope`, not `--mode=envelope`), and `--read-only` is the one flag whose value is attached (`--read-only=live`). `--` ends the options: every argument after it is positional, so a statement that starts with `-` can follow it. [How flags are parsed](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#how-flags-are-parsed) has every parsing rule, and [Environment variables](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/environment-variables/) lists the variables. | Flag | Argument | Default | Scope | Since | Description | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `--database`, `-d` | `PATH` | `:memory:` | query run | — | The store target: a directory, a `.rl` file (legacy `.cl` files still open), or `:memory:`. Never a URL; a remote store is a `--load` source. | | `--command`, `-c` | `CYPHER` | unset | query run | — | One statement or a `;`-separated list; the same as the positional QUERY, and the two cannot be combined. | | `--load` | `SOURCE` | unset | query run | — | Load a store's content from a source (a local `.rl` file, a directory, or an http(s) URL to a `.rl` file) into the target: into `:memory:` it is an ephemeral read-only open; into a new `-d PATH` it creates the store. | | `--mode` | `MODE` | table on a terminal; jsonl when stdout is piped or redirected; toon instead of jsonl when agent mode is on | query run | — | Output mode: `table`, `csv`, `json`, `jsonl`, `envelope`, `markdown`, `cypher`, `toon`, `speedscope`. An explicit mode always overrides the default. | | `--format` | `MODE` | as --mode | query run | — | Alias of `--mode` (the neo4j-cli spelling). `--output` and `-o` are unknown flags whose did-you-mean names `--format`. | | `--json`; also `-json` | — | off | query run | — | Shortcut for `--mode json`: one object per result set with the rows in `data`; indented on a terminal, one compact line when piped. | | `--csv`; also `-csv` | — | off | query run | — | Shortcut for `--mode csv`. | | `--jsonl`; also `-jsonl` | — | off | query run | — | Shortcut for `--mode jsonl`. | | `--markdown`; also `-markdown` | — | off | query run | — | Shortcut for `--mode markdown`. | | `--toon` | — | off | query run | — | Shortcut for `--mode toon`. | | `--pretty` | — | off | query run | — | Force indented `json` output when stdout is not a terminal; ignored by the other modes. | | `--noheader`; also `-noheader` | — | off | query run | — | Suppress column headers. | | `--param`; also `-param` | `N=V` | unset | query run | — | Bind a Cypher parameter (repeatable). A value that parses as JSON keeps its JSON type (`true`, `null` and numbers included); a value that starts with a digit, `-`, `"`, `[` or `{` and does not parse exits 2; any other value binds as a string. | | `--fetch-params` | `N=SRC` | unset | query run | — | Fetch an http(s) URL or read a file, parse it as JSON, and bind it as parameter N (repeatable; 64 MiB cap, 60 s timeout). A CLI-process fetch with no URL allowlist. | | `--snapshot-format` | `parquet\|json\|markdown\|parquet-wide` | parquet (json in builds without the parquet feature) | query run | — | Snapshot codec for an empty directory; an existing store keeps its recorded codec, and a different codec fails the open (exit 1). `parquet-wide` is the `parquet` codec with one typed column per common property key (format version 5): on an empty directory it creates a wide store, on an existing `parquet` store the next checkpoint re-encodes every part, and the manifest keeps the store wide after that. Environment: [`RELATE_SNAPSHOT_FORMAT`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-snapshot-format). | | `--markdown-body-properties` | `LIST` | `body` | query run | — | Body properties of a markdown-codec store (`LIST` or `Label=LIST`; entries separated by `;`; the first is written bare, the rest as `##` sections). | | `--wal-dir` | `PATH` | `/wal` | query run | — | Local WAL directory for a directory store; rejected for `.rl` files. | | `--checkpoint-interval-secs` | `N` | `300` | query run | — | Timed checkpoint period; `0` disables the timer. Persistent stores only. Environment: [`RELATE_CHECKPOINT_INTERVAL_SECS`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-checkpoint-interval-secs). | | `--durability-mode` | `full\|everysecond\|snapshot` | `full` | query run | — | Commit durability policy. `everysecond` can lose about the last second of acknowledged writes in a crash; `snapshot` can lose every write since the last completed checkpoint. Environment: [`RELATE_DURABILITY_MODE`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-durability-mode). | | `--logical-graph-size-limit` | `SIZE` | unlimited | query run | — | Live graph and index cap in logical bytes; `0` or unset is unlimited. Environment: [`RELATE_LOGICAL_GRAPH_SIZE_LIMIT`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-logical-graph-size-limit). | | `--expression-memory-limit` | `SIZE` | 256 MiB | query run | — | Per-allocation expression cap; `none` or `0` disables it. Environment: [`RELATE_EXPRESSION_MEMORY_LIMIT`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-expression-memory-limit). | | `--concurrent-logical-workspace-limit` | `SIZE` | admission off | query run | — | Shared logical-workspace pool; a positive value turns query admission on; `0` is rejected. Environment: [`RELATE_CONCURRENT_LOGICAL_WORKSPACE_LIMIT`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-concurrent-logical-workspace-limit). | | `--max-traversal-depth` | `N` | `500` | query run | — | Largest explicit traversal hop bound (1 through 2000); a larger bound fails at admission with `TraversalDepthExceeded`. Environment: [`RELATE_MAX_TRAVERSAL_DEPTH`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-max-traversal-depth). | | `--safe`, `--no-safe` | — | off | query run | — | Opt-in safe mode: refuses a new named node without a label, and a `MATCH` read whose final `RETURN`/`WITH` has no `LIMIT` and no reducing aggregate, as `SafeModeViolation` (exit 6). Environment: [`RELATE_SAFE_MODE`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-safe-mode). | | `--timeout` | `DURATION` | unset (no bound) | query run | — | Per-statement wall-clock bound: a bare number is seconds, `ms`/`s`/`m` suffixes, fractions allowed; `0` disables. A timed-out statement exits 7 with `code: "timeout"`. | | `--max-rows` | `N` | 100 under a detected agent harness with stdout not a terminal; otherwise unlimited | query run | — | Rows printed per statement; `0` is unlimited. A cut result warns on stderr, names the cut in-band in the machine modes, and exits 0. Environment: [`RELATE_MAX_ROWS`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-max-rows). | | `--width` | `N` | the terminal width, else COLUMNS, else the natural width | query run | — | Wrap the human `table` output to N columns; a value under 20 exits 2. | | `--read-only` | `[=snapshot\|live]` | off | query run | — | Open an existing store without writing, checkpointing or migrating. `snapshot` (default) freezes the state at open; `live` tails a directory store's WAL (refused for `.rl` and `:memory:`). Attached form only; once only. A write fails with exit 6. | | `--load-csv-dir` | `PATH` | denied | query run | — | Allow local `LOAD CSV` only for regular files under this directory; per-file limit 8 MiB. Environment: [`RELATE_LOAD_CSV_DIR`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-load-csv-dir). | | `--namespace` | `NAME` | `neo4j` | query run | — | Session namespace for the run: `neo4j`, `system` or `system_ontologies` (case-insensitive). Not accepted by `pull`. | | `--agent-mode`, `--no-agent-mode` | — | detected (stdout not a terminal and an agent harness variable set) | query run | — | Turn agent ergonomics (the row-cap default and the piped `toon` default) on or off unconditionally; overrides `RELATE_AGENT_MODE` and detection. Environment: [`RELATE_AGENT_MODE`](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#env-relate-agent-mode). | | `--help`, `-h` | — | — | query run | — | Print usage to stdout and exit 0; after a command word, that command's help. | | `--version`; also `-version`, `-v` | — | — | query run | — | Print `Relate v` and `License: Apache 2.0 (binary)`; with `--json`, one JSON object with `arch`, `license`, `name`, `os`, `version`. | | `--` | — | — | query run | — | Treat all following arguments as positional. | A — under Since: the data does not record the release that added the flag. ## Session forms The form depends on whether a statement is given and on what stdin is: | Form | Chosen when | Runs | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Oneshot | `STATEMENT` or `-c` is given | The statement, or each statement of the `;`-separated list in order, then exits | | Stdin script | No statement, and stdin is a pipe, a file or `/dev/null` | Every statement on stdin until end of input, then exits. Statements end with `;` (the last one may omit it), may span lines, and `//` starts a comment. Dot commands such as `.begin` and `.commit` work one per line | | Interactive shell | No statement, and stdin is a terminal | A prompt with readline-style editing and the dot commands, until `.quit` or end of input | In the oneshot and stdin forms, each statement prints its own result set and commits on its own, unless a `.begin` in a script opened a [transaction](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/glossary/#transaction). A failed statement stops the run: the statements before it stay committed, and the rest do not run. [Dot commands](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/dot-commands/) lists the shell and script commands, and [Use the interactive shell](https://relatedb.ai/docs/guides/cli/interactive-shell/) covers the shell. The path-first form with no statement differs only in the stdin case: it prints the top-level help and exits 0 without reading stdin, so a redirected script never runs. A script on stdin needs the word `query`. | Input | Exit code | Message on stderr | | ----------------------------- | --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `STATEMENT` and `-c` together | 2 | `Error: --command cannot be combined with a positional query` | | A second positional statement | 2 | `Error: unexpected argument: `, the usage line, and a `--help` hint | | Empty stdin | 0 | None | These examples run in a new, empty directory. This first command writes: it creates `team.rl`, a single-file store holding three people and two projects, and prints nothing, because a `CREATE` with no `RETURN` has no rows: ```bash verify relate query --database ./team.rl "CREATE (ada:Person {name: 'Ada', role: 'engineer'}), (grace:Person {name: 'Grace', role: 'engineer'}), (noor:Person {name: 'Noor', role: 'maintainer'}), (relate:Project {name: 'relate', language: 'Rust'}), (tck:Project {name: 'opencypher-tck', language: 'Gherkin'}), (ada)-[:WORKS_ON {since: 2024}]->(relate), (grace)-[:WORKS_ON {since: 2023}]->(relate), (grace)-[:WORKS_ON {since: 2022}]->(tck), (noor)-[:MAINTAINS]->(relate), (ada)-[:KNOWS]->(grace)" ``` A oneshot read. Stdout is a pipe here, so the output mode is `jsonl`: one JSON object per row, then one line with the statement's [timings and plan-cache outcome](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/output-modes/#timings-and-the-plan-cache): ```bash verify relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only "MATCH (p:Person) RETURN p.name AS name ORDER BY name" ``` ```text {"name":"Ada"} {"name":"Grace"} {"name":"Noor"} {"planCache":"miss","timings":{"elapsed_ms":0.532833,"execute_ms":0.366083,"lex_parse_ms":0.028334,"lower_ms":0.042624999999999996,"parse_ms":0.104958,"plan_ms":0.052958,"result_generation_ms":0.000167,"rewrite_ms":0.008209000000000001}} ``` `-c` with a `;`-separated list prints one result set per statement, here as envelopes (`--mode envelope`): ```bash verify relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only --mode envelope -c "MATCH (p:Person) RETURN count(p) AS people; MATCH (p:Project) RETURN count(p) AS projects" ``` ```text {"columnTypes":["INTEGER"],"columns":["people"],"notifications":[],"planCache":"miss","rows":[{"people":3}],"timings":{"elapsed_ms":0.46900000000000003,"execute_ms":0.299875,"lex_parse_ms":0.030875,"lower_ms":0.041832999999999995,"parse_ms":0.106041,"plan_ms":0.055,"result_generation_ms":0.000375,"rewrite_ms":0.008542000000000001},"truncated":false} {"columnTypes":["INTEGER"],"columns":["projects"],"notifications":[],"planCache":"miss","rows":[{"projects":2}],"timings":{"elapsed_ms":0.032499999999999994,"execute_ms":0.004459,"lex_parse_ms":0.0055,"lower_ms":0.009209,"parse_ms":0.019167,"plan_ms":0.007541,"result_generation_ms":0.000084,"rewrite_ms":0.00041600000000000003},"truncated":false} ``` The same two statements as a script on stdin: ```bash verify printf 'MATCH (p:Person) RETURN count(p) AS people;\nMATCH (p:Project) RETURN count(p) AS projects;\n' | relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only --mode envelope ``` ```text {"columnTypes":["INTEGER"],"columns":["people"],"notifications":[],"planCache":"miss","rows":[{"people":3}],"timings":{"elapsed_ms":0.468375,"execute_ms":0.283959,"lex_parse_ms":0.028917,"lower_ms":0.052667000000000005,"parse_ms":0.1175,"plan_ms":0.058708,"result_generation_ms":0.00025,"rewrite_ms":0.008084},"truncated":false} {"columnTypes":["INTEGER"],"columns":["projects"],"notifications":[],"planCache":"miss","rows":[{"projects":2}],"timings":{"elapsed_ms":0.043417000000000004,"execute_ms":0.003333,"lex_parse_ms":0.007666999999999999,"lower_ms":0.010875,"parse_ms":0.02575,"plan_ms":0.011916999999999999,"result_generation_ms":0.000083,"rewrite_ms":0.00075},"truncated":false} ``` A script that fails at its second statement. The first statement's result prints, the stderr lines say how far the run got, and the error object names the statement: ```bash verify printf 'MATCH (p:Person) RETURN count(p) AS people;\nRETURN 1/0 AS boom;\nRETURN 3 AS never;\n' | relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only --mode envelope echo "exit=$?" ``` ```text {"columnTypes":["INTEGER"],"columns":["people"],"notifications":[],"planCache":"miss","rows":[{"people":3}],"timings":{"elapsed_ms":0.315917,"execute_ms":0.148167,"lex_parse_ms":0.028875,"lower_ms":0.042959,"parse_ms":0.104167,"plan_ms":0.055542,"result_generation_ms":0.00025,"rewrite_ms":0.008542000000000001},"truncated":false} type error: / by zero statement 2 of 3 failed; 1 completed and committed; 1 not run {"error":{"code":"validation_error","committed":1,"exit_code":6,"kind":"type","message":"type error: / by zero","retryable":false,"statement":2,"statements":3}} exit=6 ``` ## Output modes Without an output flag, the mode depends on where stdout goes: | stdout | Default mode | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------ | | A terminal | `table` | | A pipe or a file | `jsonl` | | A pipe or a file, with [agent mode](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/agent-mode/) on | `toon` | `--mode` (alias `--format`) picks one of `table`, `csv`, `json`, `jsonl`, `envelope`, `markdown`, `cypher`, `toon` and `speedscope`; `--json`, `--csv`, `--jsonl`, `--markdown` and `--toon` are shortcuts. Of several output flags, the last one wins. A failed statement prints the error object on stdout in `envelope`, `json`, `jsonl` and `speedscope`; `table`, `csv`, `markdown`, `cypher` and `toon` print nothing on stdout; the stderr message and the exit code remain. [Output modes](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/output-modes/) shows each mode's output. `--mode table` on the people in `team.rl`: ```bash verify relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only --mode table "MATCH (p:Person) RETURN p.name AS name, p.role AS role ORDER BY name" ``` ```text +---------+--------------+ | name | role | +---------+--------------+ | "Ada" | "engineer" | | "Grace" | "engineer" | | "Noor" | "maintainer" | +---------+--------------+ ``` ## Parameters A statement reads a [parameter](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/glossary/#parameter) as `$name`. Two flags bind them, and both repeat, one parameter each: | Flag | Binds | Limits | | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `--param N=V` | `$N` to `V`, parsed as JSON. A value that starts like JSON (a digit, `-`, `"`, `[` or `{`) and does not parse exits 2; any other bare word is a string | A name bound twice keeps the last value | | `--fetch-params N=SRC` | `$N` to the JSON parsed from `SRC`: a file path, or an `http` or `https` URL | 64 MiB per source and 60 seconds per fetch. No URL allowlist: the fetch has the same trust as `--param` | A statement that names a parameter no flag bound fails with `semantic error: ParameterMissing: Expected parameter(s): ` and exit code 6. Grace's projects, by parameter, against `team.rl`: ```bash verify relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only --mode envelope --param name=Grace 'MATCH (p:Person {name: $name})-[w:WORKS_ON]->(r:Project) RETURN r.name AS project, w.since AS since ORDER BY since' ``` ```text {"columnTypes":["STRING","INTEGER"],"columns":["project","since"],"notifications":[],"planCache":"miss","rows":[{"project":"opencypher-tck","since":2022},{"project":"relate","since":2023}],"timings":{"elapsed_ms":0.473833,"execute_ms":0.281583,"lex_parse_ms":0.033209,"lower_ms":0.047208,"parse_ms":0.12095800000000001,"plan_ms":0.06224999999999999,"result_generation_ms":0.00029099999999999997,"rewrite_ms":0.008124999999999999},"truncated":false} ``` Single quotes keep the shell from expanding `$name`. [Script the CLI](https://relatedb.ai/docs/guides/cli/scripting/#pass-parameters) shows typed values and a JSON file. ## Read-only opens `--read-only` opens an existing store without writing or checkpointing it. It is off unless given, and it may appear once per run. | Spelling | Opens | Refused for | | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `--read-only`, `--read-only=snapshot` | The store as it was at open: a frozen snapshot. On a directory store it can open beside a writer; a `.rl` file opens only while no writer holds it | — | | `--read-only=live` | A [live read-only](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/glossary/#live-read-only) open: it tails the WAL and follows the writer's commits | `.rl` files and `:memory:`: `semantic error: live freshness (WAL follow) is only supported for native directory databases`, exit code 1 | | `--read-only live` (a space) | Nothing: exit code 2 with `Error: --read-only takes its value attached: --read-only=live` | — | A read-only open never creates a store. A missing directory fails with `storage error: read-only open requires an existing database at ` and a missing `.rl` file with `storage error: database not found: `, each after `Failed to open Relate: ` and with exit code 1. On `:memory:`, `--read-only` rejects writes and creates nothing. A write against a read-only open fails before it changes anything, with exit code 6: ```bash verify relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only --mode envelope "CREATE (:Person {name: 'Zed'})" echo "exit=$?" ``` ```text semantic error: WriteOnReadOnlyAccessDatabase: No write operations are allowed on this database. The database is in read-only mode on this Neo4j instance. {"error":{"code":"validation_error","exit_code":6,"kind":"semantic","message":"semantic error: WriteOnReadOnlyAccessDatabase: No write operations are allowed on this database. The database is in read-only mode on this Neo4j instance.","retryable":false}} exit=6 ``` ## Statement timeouts `--timeout DURATION` bounds each statement's wall-clock time on its own. A bare number is seconds; `ms`, `s` and `m` suffixes and fractions are accepted; `0` turns the bound off. Unset, a statement has no time bound. A statement that runs longer is cancelled and exits 7; the error object's `code` is `timeout` and `retryable` is `false`: ```bash verify relate query --read-only --mode envelope --timeout 100ms "UNWIND range(1, 20000) AS a UNWIND range(1, 20000) AS b RETURN count(*) AS pairs" echo "exit=$?" ``` ```text Error: query timed out after 100ms {"error":{"code":"timeout","exit_code":7,"kind":"execution","message":"query timed out after 100ms","retryable":false}} exit=7 ``` A value that is not a duration exits 2 with `Error: invalid --timeout: '' is not a duration (try 500ms, 10s, 2m)`. ## Errors and exit codes A session exits with the code of the first statement that failed, or 0. An empty result is a success. | Exit code | Meaning in a query session | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [0](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors/#exit-0) | Every statement ran, including one with no rows | | [1](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors/#exit-1) | Runtime failure: the store did not open, a capacity limit, an I/O or internal error | | [2](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors/#exit-2) | Usage error: unknown flag, bad or missing value, extra positional; nothing ran | | [5](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors/#exit-5) | Conflict: another process holds the store for writing, or a write-write conflict | | [6](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors/#exit-6) | The statement was rejected: syntax, semantic or type error, or a write on a read-only open | | [7](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors/#exit-7) | A statement exceeded `--timeout` | The [exit codes page](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/exit-codes-and-errors/) has the error object's fields and a recorded run for each code. ## Examples Who works on what, written to a CSV file with a header row: ```bash verify relate query --database ./team.rl --read-only --csv "MATCH (p:Person)-[w:WORKS_ON]->(r:Project) RETURN p.name AS person, r.name AS project, w.since AS since ORDER BY since" > who.csv echo "exit=$?" cat who.csv ``` ```text exit=0 person,project,since Grace,opencypher-tck,2022 Grace,relate,2023 Ada,relate,2024 ``` ## See also - [CLI flags](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/flags/#query-run-flags): each query-run flag with its environment variable - [Script the CLI](https://relatedb.ai/docs/guides/cli/scripting/): stdin scripts, parameters, timeouts, and exit codes in shell scripts - [Dot commands](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/dot-commands/): `.begin`, `.commit` and the other shell and script commands - [Agent mode](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/agent-mode/): the row cap and the `toon` default under an agent harness - [relate agent-context](https://relatedb.ai/docs/reference/cli/agent-context/): the flag names and exit codes as a compact briefing ## Terms used on this page - **query**: A statement that reads, where the contrast with writing matters; also `relate query`, the command that runs a statement session. - **statement**: One unit of Cypher that relate parses, plans and runs, such as a `MATCH … RETURN` read or a `CREATE` write; a script holds several, separated by `;`. - **transaction**: A unit of work that commits as a whole or not at all; each statement is its own transaction unless an explicit `begin` … `commit` groups several. - **parameter**: A named value a statement refers to as `$name` and the caller binds separately, such as with `--param name=value` on the CLI. - **live read-only**: A read-only open of a directory store, `--read-only=live`, that tails the WAL and follows the writer's commits as they land.