Adjacency matrix

How it is used

Common in graph theory and algorithm work when edge lookup should be simple. It is often contrasted with an adjacency list for sparse graphs.

Example sentences

1. For the classroom demo, the instructor used an adjacency matrix so students could check edge existence with a single lookup.

   Here, adjacency matrix highlights a graph representation that makes direct connection checks easy to express and inspect.

2. The team replaced the adjacency matrix after memory usage grew too much on sparse network graphs in production analysis.

   In this sentence, the term refers to a graph storage method whose space cost became inefficient for mostly empty connections.

Common collocations

• adjacency matrix
• weighted adjacency matrix
• matrix representation

Related terms

• data structureA way of organizing data in memory, such as an array, list, tree or hash map, so that certain operations are fast and simple.
• algorithmA clear, step-by-step method for solving a problem or doing a task, such as sorting a list or finding the shortest route between two points.

More terms: Data Structures and Algorithms

• array
• iterate
• hash map
• recursion
• Big O notation
• time complexity
• index
• sort
• stack
• queue
• linked list
• tree