Basics of graph theory

When it comes to making sense of complex networks, there is graph theory, which contains nodes and edges as its bare bones. You might have seen a web of interconnected points – these are nodes or vertices, and they represent all sorts of things, depending on what you’re looking at. Now, you may ask, what are the lines or edges connecting them? They represent the relationships or interactions between nodes. This is the core foundational concept behind graph theory, and it is radically utilized in areas as varied as computer science, biology, and social sciences.

Let’s paint a picture with some examples. In social network analysis, think of each node as a person. The edges are the ties that bind them – friendships, work relationships; you name it. It’s like mapping out your own social universe. Now, switch gears to biology. Here, nodes could be proteins, and the edges show us how they interact, kind of like a molecular dance...