# # Relations

> What data is linked to what other data. Allows you to assign authors to articles, products to sales, and whatever other structures you can think of. Learn more about Relationships.

- The Relation Object
- List relations
- List relations in collection
- Retrieve a relation
- Create a Relation
- Update a Relation
- Delete a Relation

## # The Relation Object

`collection` string
Name of the collection. This matches the table name in the database.

`field` string
Name of the field that holds the related primary key. This matches the column name in the database.

`related_collection` string
Name of the related collection. This matches the table name in the database.

#### # Meta

Directus metadata. Used to enable non-database relationship types

`id` integer
Primary key of the metadata row in `directus_relations`.

`many_collection` string
Name of the collection. Matches the top level `collection` field.

`many_field` string
Name of the field. Matches the top level `field` field.

`one_collection` string
Name of the related collection. Matches the top level `related_collection` field.

`one_field` string
Name of the one to many field on the other side of the relation.

`one_allowed_collections` string
What collections are allowed to be used in a many-to-any context.

`one_collection_field` string
Field that holds the collection name in a many-to-any context.

`one_deselect_action` nullify | delete
Whether to nullify or delete related one-to-many records.

`sort_field` string
What field is used to hold the sort field.

`junction_field` string
What field connects two relations in a many-to-many (o2m-m2o) context.

#### # Schema

"Raw" database information. Based on the database vendor used, different information might be returned. The following are available for all drivers.

`table` string
The table name.

`column` string
The column name.

`foreign_key_table` string
Related table name.

`foreign_key_column` string
Related column name.

`constraint_name` string
Name for the foreign key constraint.

`on_update` string
Update trigger for the foreign key constraint.

`on_delete` string
Delete trigger for the foreign key constraint.

    {
    	"collection": "about_us",
    	"field": "logo",
    	"related_collection": "directus_files",
    	"schema": {
    		"table": "about_us",
    		"column": "logo",
    		"foreign_key_table": "directus_files",
    		"foreign_key_column": "id",
    		"constraint_name": "about_us_logo_foreign",
    		"on_update": "NO ACTION",
    		"on_delete": "SET NULL"
    	},
    	"meta": {
    		"id": 1,
    		"junction_field": null,
    		"many_collection": "about_us",
    		"many_field": "logo",
    		"one_allowed_collections": null,
    		"one_collection": "directus_files",
    		"one_collection_field": null,
    		"one_deselect_action": "nullify",
    		"one_field": null,
    		"sort_field": null
    	}
    }

## # List relations

List all relations that exist in Directus.

Permissions

The data returned in this endpoint will be filtered based on the user's permissions. For example, relations that apply to a collection that the current user doesn't have access to are stripped out.

### # Query Parameters

Doesn't support any query parameters.

### # Returns

Array of relation objects. If no items are available, data will be an empty array.

### # REST API

    GET /relations

### # GraphQL

    POST /graphql/system

    type Query {
    	relations: [directus_relations]
    }

##### # Example

    query {
    	relations {
    		collection
    		field
    	}
    }

## # List relations in collection

List all relations that exist in a given collection.

Permissions

The data returned in this endpoint will be filtered based on the user's permissions. For example, relations that apply to a collection that the current user doesn't have access to are stripped out.

### # Query Parameters

Doesn't support any query parameters.

### # Returns

Array of relation objects. If no items are available, data will be an empty array.

### # REST API

    GET /relations/:collection

##### # Example

    GET /relations/articles

### # GraphQL

    POST /graphql/system

    type Query {
    	relations_in_collection(collection: String!): [directus_relations]
    }

##### # Example

    query {
    	relations_in_collection(collection: "articles") {
    		collection
    		field
    	}
    }

## # Retrieve a relation

List an existing relation by collection/field name.

### # Query Parameters

Doesn't support any query parameters.

### # Returns

Returns the requested relation object.

### # REST API

    GET /relations/:collection/:field

##### # Example

    GET /relations/articles/featured_image

### # GraphQL

    POST /graphql/system

    type Query {
    	relations_by_name(collection: String!, field: String!): directus_relations
    }

##### # Example

    query {
    	relations_by_name(collection: "articles", field: "featured_image") {
    		collection
    		field
    		related_collection
    	}
    }

## # Create a Relation

Create a new relation.

### # Query Parameters

Doesn't support any query parameters.

### # Request Body

A partial relation object.

### # Returns

Returns the relation object for the created relation.

### # REST API

    POST /relations

##### # Example

    // POST /relations

    {
    	"collection": "articles",
    	"field": "featured_image",
    	"related_collection": "directus_files"
    }

### # GraphQL

    POST /graphql/system

    type Mutation {
    	create_relations_item(data: create_directus_relations_input!): directus_relations
    }

##### # Example

    mutation {
    	create_relations_item(
    		data: { collection: "articles", field: "featured_image", related_collection: "directus_files" }
    	) {
    		collection
    		field
    		related_collection
    	}
    }

## # Update a Relation

Update an existing relation.

### # Query Parameters

Doesn't support any query parameters.

### # Request Body

A partial relation object.

### # Returns

Returns the relation object for the created relation.

### # REST API

    PATCH /relations/:collection/:field

##### # Example

    // PATCH /relations/articles/author

    {
    	"meta": {
    		"one_field": "articles"
    	}
    }

### # GraphQL

    POST /graphql/system

    type Mutation {
    	update_relations_item(collection: String!, field: String!, data: update_directus_relations_input!): directus_relations
    }

##### # Example

    mutation {
    	update_relations_item(collection: "articles", field: "author", data: { meta: { one_field: "articles" } }) {
    		collection
    		field
    		related_collection
    	}
    }

## # Delete a Relation

Delete an existing relation.

### # Returns

Empty body.

### # REST API

    DELETE /relations/:collection/:field

##### # Example

    DELETE /relations/articles/author

### # GraphQL

    POST /graphql/system

    type Mutation {
    	delete_relations_item(collection: String!, field: String!): delete_one
    }

##### # Example

    mutation {
    	delete_relations_item(collection: "articles", field: "author") {
    		collection
    		field
    	}
    }