What Is Multigraph in Data Structure?

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Angela Bailey

What Is Multigraph in Data Structure?

When studying data structures, it is important to understand different types of graphs. One such type is a multigraph, which is a graph that allows multiple edges between two vertices and even loops where an edge connects a vertex to itself.

Definition:

A multigraph, also known as a pseudograph, is an extension of a simple graph. In a simple graph, each edge connects two distinct vertices, whereas in a multigraph, there can be multiple edges between the same pair of vertices.

Representation:

In order to represent a multigraph efficiently, we can use an adjacency list or an adjacency matrix. The choice depends on the specific requirements and operations performed on the multigraph.

Adjacency List Representation:

In the adjacency list representation of a multigraph, we maintain an array of lists. Each element in the array represents a vertex, and the corresponding list contains all the adjacent vertices connected by edges.

Here is an example of an adjacency list representation of a multigraph:

  • List 0: 1 -> 2 -> 2 -> 3
  • List 1: 0 -> 2 -> null
  • List 2: 0 -> 0 -> 1
  • List 3: 0

Adjacency Matrix Representation:

In the adjacency matrix representation of a multigraph, we use a two-dimensional matrix to represent the connections between vertices. The matrix element at index [i][j] represents the number of edges between vertex i and vertex j.

Here is an example of an adjacency matrix representation of a multigraph:

  • 0 1 2 3
  • 0 0 1 2 0
  • 1 1 0 0 0
  • 2 2 0 0 1
  • 3 0 0 1 0

Operations on Multigraph:

Various operations can be performed on a multigraph, including:

  • AddVertex(V): Adds a new vertex V to the multigraph.
  • AddEdge(V, W): Adds a new edge between vertices V and W in the multigraph.
  • DeleteVertex(V): Deletes the vertex V from the multigraph.
  • DeleteEdge(V, W): Deletes the edge between vertices V and W from the multigraph.
  • GetAdjacentVertices(V): Returns a list of all vertices adjacent to vertex V in the multigraph.
  • GetDegree(V): Returns the degree of vertex V, i.e., the number of edges incident to it in the multigraph.

Applications:

Multigraphs find applications in various fields, including network analysis, transportation systems, social networks, and computer science algorithms. They provide a more flexible representation when multiple connections between vertices are required.

In conclusion, understanding multigraphs is crucial for analyzing complex relationships and connectivity patterns in real-world scenarios. By using appropriate data structures and algorithms, we can efficiently represent and manipulate multigraphs to solve a wide range of problems.

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