A graph is a pictorial representation of a set of objects where some pairs of objects are connected by links. The interconnected objects are represented by points termed as vertices, and the links that connect the vertices are called edges.

Formally, a graph is a pair of sets (V, E), where V is the set of vertices and E is the set of edges, connecting the pairs of vertices. Take a look at the following graph −

In the above graph,

V = {a, b, c, d, e}

E = {ab, ac, bd, cd, de}

Graph Data Structure

 Mathematical graphs can be represented in data structure. We can represent a graph using an array of vertices and a two-dimensional array of edges. Before we proceed further, let's familiarize ourselves with some important terms −

  • Vertex − Each node of the graph is represented as a In the following example, the labeled circle represents vertices. Thus, A to G are vertices. We can represent them using an array as shown in the following image. Here A can be identified by index 0. B can be identified using index 1 and so on.
  • Edge − Edge represents a path between two vertices or a line between two In the following example, the lines from A to B, B to C, and so on represents edges. We can use a two-dimensional array to represent an array as shown in the following image. Here AB can be represented as 1 at row 0, column 1, BC as 1 at row 1, column 2 and so on, keeping other combinations as 0.
  • Adjacency − Two node or vertices are adjacent if they are connected to each other through an In the following example, B is adjacent to A, C is adjacent to B, and so on.
  • Path − Path represents a sequence of edges between the two In the following example, ABCD represents a path from A to D.

                         

Basic Operations on Graph

Following are basic primary operations of a Graph −

  • Add Vertex − Adds a vertex to the graph.
  • Add Edge − Adds an edge between the two vertices of the graph.
  • Display Vertex − Displays a vertex of the graph.

Types of Graph:

  1. Finite Graphs: A graph is said to be finite if it has finite number of vertices and finite number of edges.                                                   
  2. Infinite Graph: A graph is said to be infinite if it has infinite number of vertices as well as infinite number of edges.

                                                 

  1. Trivial Graph: A graph is said to be trivial if a finite graph contains only one vertex and no edge.                                                                 
  2. Simple Graph: A simple graph is a graph which does not contains more than one edge between the pair of vertices. A simple railway tracks connecting different cities is an example of simple graph.

                                                   

  1. Multi Graph: Any graph which contain some parallel edges but doesn’t contain any self- loop is called multi graph. For example A Road Map.
    • Parallel Edges: If two vertices are connected with more than one edge than such edges are called parallel edges that is many roots but one destination.
    • Loop: An edge of a graph which join a vertex to itself is called loop or a self-loop.
  2. Null Graph: A graph of order n and size zero that is a graph which contain n number of vertices but do not contain any edge.

                             

 

  1. Complete Graph: A simple graph with n vertices is called a complete graph if the degree of each vertex is n-1, that is, one vertex is attach with n-1 edges. A complete graph is also called Full Graph.
  1. Pseudo Graph: A graph G with a self loop and some multiple edges is called pseudo graph.
  2. Regular Graph: A simple graph is said to be regular if all vertices of a graph G are of equal degree. All complete graphs are regular but vice versa is not possible.
  1. Bipartite Graph: A graph G = (V, E) is said to be bipartite graph if its vertex set V(G) can be partitioned into two non-empty disjoint subsets. V1(G) and V2(G) in such a way that each edge e of E(G) has its one end in V1(G) and other end in V2(G).

The partition V1 U V2 = V is called Bipartite of G.

Here in the figure:

V1(G)={V5, V4, V3}

V2(G)={V1, V2}

                             

11. Labelled Graph: If the vertices and edges of a graph are labelled with name, data or weight then it is called labelled graph. It is also called Weighted Graph.

                                     

 

 

12. Digraph Graph: A graph G = (V, E) with a mapping f such that every edge maps onto some ordered pair of vertices (Vi, Vj) is called Digraph. It is also called Directed Graph. Ordered pair (Vi, Vj) means an edge between Vi and Vj with an arrow directed from Vi to Vj.

Here in the figure: e1 = (V1, V2)

e2 = (V2, V3) e4 = (V2, V4)

                       

 

13. Subgraph: A graph G = (V1, E1) is called subgraph of a graph G(V, E) if V1(G) is a subset of V(G) and E1(G) is a subset of E(G) such that each edge of G1 has same end vertices as in G.

                               

Types of Subgraph:

  •  Vertex disjoint subgraph: Any two graph G1 = (V1, E1) and G2 = (V2, E2) are said to be vertex disjoint of a graph G = (V, E) if V1(G1) intersection V2(G2) = null. In figure there is no common vertex between G1 and G2.
  • Edge disjoint subgraph: A subgraph is said to be edge disjoint if E1(G1) intersection E2(G2) =null. In figure there is no common edge between G1 and G2.

Note: Edge disjoint subgraph may have vertices in common but vertex disjoint graph cannot have common edge, so vertex disjoint subgraph will always be an edge disjoint subgraph.

                         

14. Connected or Disconnected Graph: A graph G is said to be connected if for any pair of vertices (Vi, Vj) of a graph G are reachable from one another. Or a graph is said to be connected if there exist atleast one path between each and every pair of vertices in graph G, otherwise it is disconnected. A null graph with n vertices is disconnected graph consisting of n components. Each component consist of one vertex and no edge.

                     

15. Cyclic Graph: A graph G consisting of n vertices and n> = 3 that is V1, V2, V3…Vn and edges (V1, V2), (V2, V3), (V3, V4)….(Vn, V1) are called cyclic graph.

                                                             

Application of Graphs:

  •  Computer Science: In computer science, graph is used to represent networks of communication, data organization, computational devices etc.
  • Physics and Chemistry: Graph theory is also used to study molecules in chemistry and physics.
  • Social Science: Graph theory is also widely used in sociology.
  • Mathematics: In this, graphs are useful in geometry and certain parts of topology such as knot theory.
  • Biology: Graph theory is useful in biology and conservation efforts.