Modern Techniques For Querying Graph-structured Databases

In an era of increasingly interconnected information, graph- structured data has become pervasive across numerous domains from social media platforms and telecommunication networks to biological systems and knowledge graphs. However, traditional database management systems often struggle when confronted with the unique challenges posed by graph-structured data, in large part due to the explosion of intermediate results, the complexity of join-heavy queries, and the use of regular path queries. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of modern query processing techniques designed to address these challenges. We focus on four key components that have emerged as pivotal in optimizing queries on graph-structured databases: (1) Predefined joins, which leverage precomputed data structures to accelerate joins; (2) Worst-case optimal join algorithms, that avoid redundant computations for queries with cycles; (3) Factorized representations, which compress intermediate and final query results; and (4) Advanced techniques for processing recursive queries, essential for traversing graph structures. For each component, we delve into its theoretical underpinnings, explore design considerations, and discuss the implementation challenges associated with integrating these techniques into existing database management systems. This survey aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for both researchers pushing the boundaries of query processing and practitioners seeking to implement state-of-the-art techniques, in addition to offering insights into future research directions in this rapidly evolving field.