Graphs in a nutshell
A graph is a data structure that's used to represent a collection of nodes that can be connected with edges. For example, a graph can be used to represent a network of members on a social media platform, so it is a great data structure for representing real-life connections. A tree (as detailed in the previous section) is a particular type of graph. In other words, a tree is a graph without cycles. In graph terms, a graph without cycles is called an acyclic graph.
The specific terminology for graphs involves two main terms:
- Vertex represents the information (for example, a member, a dog, or a value)
- Edge is the connection or the relationship between two vertices
The connection can be unidirectional (as in the case of binary trees) or bidirectional. When the connection is bidirectional (such as a two-way street), the graph is known as an undirected graph and it has undirected edges. When the connection is unidirectional (such as a one...
