Overview
Most Graph queries match on shared properties exactly: two Accounts that have the same email address are connected. Some queries go further and connect Accounts that share similar properties. When two Accounts are similar enough to count as a match, Graph connects them through a similarity node.
For example, compare the Accounts on these email addresses:
alex.johnson@example.comalexjohnson103@example.com
These are not the same string, so an exact query would not link them. A similarity query compares the two addresses and connects the two Accounts, because they are close enough that they are likely registered by the same person.
Similarity connections are pairs, not clusters
A similarity node always connects exactly two Accounts. If three Accounts resemble one another, Graph creates three separate pair connections, not one three-way cluster. Unlike an exact property match, a similarity connection never fans out to many Accounts at once.
When you see a similarity node in a result, it links exactly the two Accounts it sits between.
How similarity is configured
Similarity behavior is set up in Graph Configuration. Depending on your organization’s setup, you can:
- Turn on similarity for specific property types, such as email addresses.
- Adjust the sensitivity of the comparison, so that it flags only near-identical matches or also looser ones.
The properties that support similarity, and whether they are available to your organization, are listed in the Graph Query reference.
Where similarity applies
Which property types support similarity depends on your organization’s setup. Most compare text, such as an email address or a name. Some compare a submitted image, so a photo that is cropped, resized, or taken at a slightly different angle can still match.
Availability also varies by region, so an Account may have no similarity connection even when it has the underlying property.
Similarity nodes sit on the canvas alongside exact-match nodes, so if the terms above are new to you, the Graph glossary defines them and Graph Explorer interface shows how a node behaves when you hover or expand it.