# How Graphify Export Formats Work: HTML, GraphML, SVG, Neo4j, and FalkorDB

> Discover how Graphify exports graphs to HTML, GraphML, SVG, Neo4j, and FalkorDB. Learn about dedicated exporter modules that convert NetworkX graphs for visualization and database use.

- Repository: [Graphify Labs/graphify](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-07-15

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**Graphify supports five distinct export formats—HTML, GraphML, SVG, Neo4j Cypher, and FalkorDB—each handled by dedicated exporter modules under `graphify/exporters/` that transform NetworkX graph objects into visualization-ready or database-compatible outputs.**

Graphify, an open-source knowledge graph builder from Graphify-Labs/graphify, converts source code into structured graph representations. Understanding how these **Graphify export formats** function helps you integrate graph data into visualization tools, databases, or documentation pipelines.

## HTML Export (Interactive Visualization)

The HTML exporter generates self-contained interactive web pages using the Vis.js library. Located in [`graphify/exporters/html.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/html.py), this exporter creates browser-ready visualizations where nodes are colored by community detection results and users can filter via a search box.

The implementation leverages a lightweight template ([`html_template.html`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/html_template.html)) that receives serialized graph data, community mappings, and optional overlays (such as learning status or member counts) as JSON. Security measures include `html.escape` for all user-provided strings to prevent XSS attacks, and Subresource Integrity (SRI) checks for the Vis.js library scripts.

To maintain browser responsiveness, the exporter caps visualization at **5,000 nodes** via the `MAX_NODES_FOR_VIZ` constant. When invoked programmatically, the function signature follows:

```python
from graphify.export import to_html

to_html(G, communities, "graphify-out/graph.html", community_labels=my_labels)

```

## GraphML Export (Standard Exchange Format)

For interoperability with tools like Gephi and yEd, Graphify emits GraphML through the `to_graphml` function. The implementation resides in [`graphify/exporters/base.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/base.py) and is re-exported through [`graphify/export.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/export.py) at line 913.

This exporter wraps NetworkX's `write_graphml` with preprocessing to handle Python-specific data types. `None` values are replaced with empty strings to prevent NetworkX from raising `ValueError`, while complex attributes such as lists and dictionaries are JSON-serialized to survive round-trip serialization. Community identifiers are stored as the `community` node attribute.

```python
from graphify.export import to_graphml

to_graphml(G, communities, "graphify-out/graph.graphml")

```

## SVG Export (Static Vector Graphics)

The SVG exporter in [`graphify/exporters/svg.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/svg.py) produces scalable vector graphics suitable for embedding in Markdown, Notion pages, or GitHub READMEs. This format relies on Graphviz's `dot` layout engine to compute node positions and render the final graphic.

Node colors encode community membership, generating a static visualization that requires no JavaScript or external dependencies. The `to_svg` function is imported into [`graphify/export.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/export.py) and exposed as part of the public API:

```python
from graphify.export import to_svg

to_svg(G, communities, "graphify-out/graph.svg")

```

## Neo4j Export (Cypher Statements)

To populate Neo4j graph databases, [`graphify/exporters/graphdb.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/graphdb.py) provides the `to_cypher` function that generates executable Cypher statements. Nodes export as `(:Label {id:…, ...})` constructs, while relationships become `(:Label)-[:TYPE]->(:Label)` patterns.

Community information persists as node properties within the generated Cypher script. You can execute the output directly via `neo4j-shell` or paste it into the Neo4j Browser:

```python
from graphify.export import to_cypher

to_cypher(G, communities, "graphify-out/graph.cypher")

```

## FalkorDB Export (FalkorDB Compatibility)

Also located in [`graphify/exporters/graphdb.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/graphdb.py), the `to_falkordb` function adapts the Neo4j Cypher syntax for FalkorDB compatibility, accounting for differing quoting rules and specific FalkorDB requirements. This allows Graphify to generate import scripts for FalkorDB, a graph database compatible with Neo4j's query language.

The CLI supports direct pushing to a running FalkorDB instance using the `--falkordb-push` flag, while the Python API provides standard file export:

```python
from graphify.export import to_falkordb

to_falkordb(G, communities, "graphify-out/graph.falkordb")

```

## Common Export Workflow

All exporters follow a unified pipeline defined in the core architecture:

1. **Graph Construction** – The pipeline (`detect → extract → build → cluster → analyze → report`) generates a NetworkX `Graph` object (`G`) and a community mapping dictionary (`communities: dict[int, list[str]]`).
2. **Invocation** – Call exporters via CLI flags (`--html`, `--graphml`, `--svg`, `--neo4j`, `--falkordb`) or import directly from `graphify.export`.
3. **Output** – Files write to the `graphify-out/` directory with appropriate extensions.
4. **Post-Processing** – HTML and SVG embed directly into documentation, while database exports can pipe into live instances.

## Summary

- **HTML exports** ([`graphify/exporters/html.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/html.py)) create interactive Vis.js visualizations with XSS protection and a 5,000-node limit.
- **GraphML exports** ([`graphify/exporters/base.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/base.py)) serialize to standard XML with NetworkX, handling complex attributes via JSON and `None` values via empty strings.
- **SVG exports** ([`graphify/exporters/svg.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/svg.py)) generate static graphics using Graphviz `dot` layouts.
- **Neo4j exports** ([`graphify/exporters/graphdb.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/graphdb.py)) emit Cypher statements with community data stored as node properties.
- **FalkorDB exports** ([`graphify/exporters/graphdb.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/graphdb.py)) adapt Cypher syntax for FalkorDB compatibility and support direct database pushing.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the maximum graph size for HTML export?

The HTML exporter limits interactive visualizations to **5,000 nodes** via the `MAX_NODES_FOR_VIZ` constant in [`graphify/exporters/html.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/html.py). This cap ensures browser responsiveness when rendering the Vis.js visualization.

### How does Graphify handle complex node attributes in GraphML?

According to the source code in [`graphify/exporters/base.py`](https://github.com/Graphify-Labs/graphify/blob/main/graphify/exporters/base.py), the GraphML exporter JSON-serializes complex Python types (lists and dictionaries) to preserve them during export. Additionally, it replaces `None` values with empty strings to prevent NetworkX from raising `ValueError` during the `write_graphml` operation.

### Can I export directly to a running Neo4j or FalkorDB instance?

For Neo4j, you generate Cypher scripts using `to_cypher` and execute them via `neo4j-shell` or the Neo4j Browser. For FalkorDB, the CLI provides a `--falkordb-push` flag that streams the export directly to a running FalkorDB instance, while the Python API generates compatible import scripts through `to_falkordb`.

### Which export format is best for documentation?

**SVG** is optimal for static embedding in Markdown, README files, or Notion pages since it requires no JavaScript dependencies. **HTML** suits interactive documentation or dashboards where users need to explore community clusters and search through nodes dynamically.