---
id: viewing-entity-relationships
title: Viewing entity relationships
description: View the relationships between the entities in the Catalog
---

Audience: All

Each of the entities in the Catalog has various relationships to each other. For example, the demo data includes an API that provides data to a website. `guests` is the owner of the API and the website, and anyone signed in as part of the `guests` group can maintain them.

To see these relationships:

1. Select the name of the component in the main panel, in this example, `example-website`.

   ![Screenshot of the Backstage portal with example-website selected.](../assets/uiguide/select-example-website.png)

   A page is displayed that includes a `Relations` section. This section displays the selected entity and any other types of entities to which it is related. Each relationship is also designated, such as `hasPart/partOf` and `apiProvidedBy/providesApi`. [Well-known Relations between Catalog Entities](../features/software-catalog/well-known-relations.md) describes the most common relationships, but you can also [create your own relationships](../features/software-catalog/extending-the-model.md#adding-a-new-relation-type).

2. Selecting any of the related entities allows you to drill down further through the system model.

   ![Screenshot of the example-website Relations panel.](../assets/uiguide/example-website-relationships.png)

## Filtering the relationships

You can also view the relationships in the [Catalog Graph](../features/software-catalog/creating-the-catalog-graph.md). This view allows you to filter what entities and relationships to display.

To display the Catalog Graph:

1. Select the name of the component in the main panel, in this example, `example-website`.

   A page is displayed that includes a `Relations` section.

2. Select `View graph` in the `Relations` section.

   ![Select View graph.](../assets/uiguide/select-view-graph.png)

   The `Catalog Graph` is displayed.

   ![Screenshot of Catalog Graph.](../assets/uiguide/catalog-graph.png)

### Setting the filters

The `Catalog Graph` automatically reflects any changes you make to the filter settings. You can set the following filters:

- `MAX DEPTH`

  - `MAX DEPTH` = 1

    ![Max Depth at 1](../assets/uiguide/max-depth-1.png)

  - `MAX DEPTH` = infinite

    ![Max Depth at infinite](../assets/uiguide/max-depth-infinite.png)

- `KINDS` - select what kinds of entities you want to view, default is all kinds
- `RELATIONS` - select which relationships you want to view, default is all relationships
- `Direction` - orientation in which you want to view the entity and its associated nodes
  - Top to bottom
  - Bottom to top
  - Left to right
  - Right to left
- `Curve`

  - `Curve` = Monotone

    ![Curve at Monotone.](../assets/uiguide/curve-monotone.png)

  - `Curve` = Step Before

    ![Curve at Step Before.](../assets/uiguide/curve-step-before.png)

You can also toggle:

- `Simplified`
  - On = simple view
  - Off = detailed view
- `Merge relations`

  - On = You see the relationship from the selected entity to the nodes and from the nodes to the selected entity.
  - Off = You only see relations from the selected entity to its nodes.

  The following graphics illustrate the view of the nodes and relationships, based on the combination of the settings of `Simplified` and `Merge relations`.

  - `Simplified` = On and `Merge Relations` = On

    ![Simplified is On and Merge Relations is On.](../assets/uiguide/simplify-on-merge-relations-on.png)

  - `Simplified` = On and `Merge Relations` = Off

    ![Simplified is On and Merge Relations is Off.](../assets/uiguide/simplify-on-merge-relations-off.png)

  - `Simplified` = Off and `Merge Relations` = On

    ![Simplified is Off and Merge Relations is On.](../assets/uiguide/simplify-off-merge-relations-on.png)

  - `Simplified` = Off and `Merge Relations` = Off

    ![Simplified is Off and Merge Relations is Off.](../assets/uiguide/simplify-off-merge-relations-off.png)