What is a Graph?

Introduction

When we talk about graphs, what comes to mind are the conventional graphs used to visualize data. In computer science, the term “graph” has a completely different meaning. It is a data structure used to store and manipulate data.

The graph data structure plays a fundamental role in several applications such as GPS, neural networks, peer-to-peer networks, search engine crawlers, garbage collection (Python), and even social networking websites.

This section will explore its functionality and power. We will also look at how they are used to solve a diverse range of problems.

Now, let’s see what a graph really is.

Graph Structure

A graph is a set of nodes that are connected to each other in the form of a network. First of all, we’ll define the two basic components of a graph.

Vertex

A vertex is the most essential part of a graph. A collection of vertices forms a graph. In that sense, vertices are similar to linked list nodes.

Edge

An edge is the link between two vertices. It can be uni-directional or bi-directional depending on your graph. An edge can also have a cost associated with it (will be discussed in detail later).

Here is a visual representation of a graph: