Network Science

First published: 2016

Brief summary

Free online textbook introducing network science and complex systems.

Article

Network science studies systems as sets of nodes connected by links. Depending on the application, nodes may represent people, organisms, computers, proteins or locations, while links represent relationships, interactions or flows.

Network structure is measured using quantities such as degree, path length, clustering, centrality and community organisation. These measures describe how connections are distributed and how easily information, influence or material can move through the system.

Random networks, small-world networks and scale-free models provide contrasting mechanisms for network formation. Preferential attachment is one model in which new nodes are more likely to connect to nodes that already have many links.

Network topology affects spreading, synchronisation, robustness and vulnerability. Empirical analysis compares theoretical models with observed networks, while recognising that sampling, missing links, direction, weight and changes through time can strongly affect conclusions.

Source details and credits

• Source / publisher: Barabási Lab
• Source type: Online textbook
• URL type: WWW
• Credits: Barabási Lab
• URL: https://networksciencebook.com/