# Use MERGE to avoid duplicate nodes

> Use MERGE for idempotent upserts with ON CREATE and ON MATCH clauses to avoid duplicates

- Skill: `falkordb/use-merge-to-avoid-duplicate-nodes` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add falkordb/use-merge-to-avoid-duplicate-nodes`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/falkordb/use-merge-to-avoid-duplicate-nodes/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: falkordb (https://skillmd.com/u/falkordb)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/falkordb/use-merge-to-avoid-duplicate-nodes

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# Use MERGE to avoid duplicate nodes

Use `MERGE` for idempotent upserts that create nodes only if they don't exist.

## Usage

Use `MERGE` when you want to ensure a node exists without creating duplicates. Combine with `ON CREATE` and `ON MATCH` clauses to set properties conditionally.

## Example

```bash
redis-cli GRAPH.QUERY social "MERGE (u:User {id: 42})
ON CREATE SET u.name = 'Dana'
ON MATCH SET u.last_seen = timestamp()"
```

## Notes

- `MERGE` creates the node if it doesn't exist, or matches it if it does
- `ON CREATE SET` runs only when a new node is created
- `ON MATCH SET` runs only when an existing node is matched
- This ensures idempotent operations that can be safely repeated