Graph Theory Questions Medium
A directed graph, also known as a digraph, is a type of graph in which the edges have a specific direction associated with them. In a directed graph, each edge is represented by an ordered pair of vertices, indicating the direction from one vertex (called the tail) to another vertex (called the head). This means that the edges in a directed graph have a specific orientation, unlike undirected graphs where the edges have no specific direction.
In a directed graph, it is possible to have both incoming and outgoing edges for each vertex, allowing for more complex relationships and dependencies to be represented. This makes directed graphs particularly useful in modeling systems with directional flows, such as transportation networks, computer networks, social networks, and many other real-world scenarios.
Directed graphs can be represented visually using arrows to indicate the direction of the edges. Additionally, they can be represented mathematically using an adjacency matrix or an adjacency list, similar to undirected graphs.
Overall, a directed graph is a fundamental concept in graph theory that provides a way to represent and analyze relationships with specific directions between vertices.