Definition:Graph (Graph Theory)

Informal Definition
A graph is intuitively defined as a pair consisting of a set of nodes or vertices and a set of edges.



Vertex
In the above, the vertices (singular: vertex) are the points $A, B, C, D, E, F, G$ which are marked as dots.

Edge
In the above, the edges are $AB, AE, BE, CD, CE, CF, DE, DF, FG$.

Formal Definition
Formally, a graph is an ordered pair $G = \left({V, E}\right)$ such that:
 * $V$ is a set, called the vertex set;
 * $E$ is a set of 2-element subsets of $V$, called the edge set.

That is: $E \subseteq \left\{{\left\{{u, v}\right\}: u, v \in V}\right\}$.

$E$ can also be described as an antireflexive, symmetric relation on $V$.

It is often convenient to refer to the vertex set and edge set for a given graph $G$ as $V \left({G}\right)$ and $E \left({G}\right)$ respectively, especially if there is at any one time more than one graph under consideration.

A graph whose vertex set is empty is called the null graph.

Many treatments of this subject require that $V$ is non-empty, and so do not recognise the concept of a null graph.

Also see

 * Multigraph: A graph which may have more than one edge between a given pair of vertices;
 * Loop-graph: A graph which allows an edge to start and end at the same vertex. Such an edge is called a loop.
 * Directed graph or digraph: A graph in which the edges are ordered pairs of vertices.

A graph which is not a multigraph nor a loop-graph nor a directed graph can be called a simple graph if this clarification is necessary.