A graph is a non-linear data structure consisting of nodes (or vertices) and edges that connect these nodes. It's widely used to model relationships between objects in various applications.
🔢 Key Components
- Nodes: Represent entities (e.g., cities, users)
- Edges: Represent connections between nodes (e.g., roads, friendships)
- Directed/Undirected: Edges may have direction (→) or not (↔)
- Weighted/Unweighted: Edges can carry numerical values or not
📋 Types of Graphs
| Type | Description | 📎 Example |
|---|---|---|
| Undirected Graph | Edges have no direction | A-B, B-C |
| Directed Graph | Edges point from one node to another | A→B, B←C |
| Weighted Graph | Edges have weights | A-B:5, B-C:3 |
| Bipartite Graph | Nodes divided into two disjoint sets | Social network connections |
🧠 Applications
- Social network analysis 🕸️
- Route planning in maps 🚗
- Computer network topologies 🌐
- Recommendation systems 🎯
📚 Related Topics
For deeper understanding, check our guide on Graph Algorithms or explore Tree Structures for comparisons.