Why should we care networks?#
From the vast expanse of the Internet to social networks and protein-protein interactions, networks are all around us in nature and society. And, their connections do matter in our daily lives. A virus goes viral by going through the physical contacts of people. The economics are driven by trades between companies. Proteins function by interacting with each other. Networks are the key drivers of many interesting phenomena that do not arise without the networks!
Zoo of networks#
Can you find networks around you? Find out what networks are like in nature and society.
What is a network?#
Networks, in the simplest form, consist of a set of points, called nodes, and lines connecting them, called edges. This representation is quite simple. So simple that it is versatile to represent many systems of different kinds. While representing complex, real-world systems by points and lines is crude, it still captures many interesting properties, as we will see.
