Pygmalion Query: A Visual Query Language for Graph Databases

efficiently store network structured data. But while plenty of research has gone into the development of this technology, querying for a subset of the data is lacking user friendly interfaces. Of the two main query methods, graph pattern matching and graph traversal, the first has received more attention and more methods providing visual support in querying are available. The latter, graph traversal, while being very powerful, has seen little advances in visual querying. This thesis aims at providing a novel user interface for graph traversal query formulation - a visual query language for graph databases - entitled Pygmalion Query. In the thesis, first a literature review is undertaken to discover any previous approaches taken at such a visual query language. With it, gaps in the currently available research are identified. Following the literature review, needs and requirements are identified from different sources, such as queries posted online and documentation for graph traversal query languages. After selection of minimum required features, the design for Pygmalion Query is created. A web-based implementation, built on available frameworks, is implemented. Following the creation of Pygmalion Query, a twofold evaluation is conducted. An expert review serves as the initial confirmation of the approach taken. Using feedback coming from the experts, an updated implementation is created. A small comparative user study is carried to test for usability. The results of the expert review and user study indicate a positive usability effect of Pygmalion Query in the formulation of graph traversal queries over the currently available solutions. The participants of the study, in greatest part novice users, are more likely to complete the tasks posed to them with the visual query language.