Introduction to Directed Graphs

Graph Theory · Axiom Academy

INTRO Introduction to Directed Graphs Discover how direction changes everything in the world of graphs ➡ Step 1: Arrows Make All the Difference Click the street signs to toggle between a regular street and a one-way street. Notice how direction changes what's possible! Step 2: Direction in the Real World Click on each example to see how directed graphs model real relationships where direction matters. Step 3: How Direction Changes Paths Try to find a path from the START node to the END node. Can you always get there? Step 4: Side-by-Side Comparison Compare the same network structure as an undirected graph versus a directed graph. Every edge has a specific direction, shown by an arrow. You can only traverse the edge in that direction. Paths, connectivity, and reachability all depend on following arrows. A path from A to B doesn't mean there's a path from B to A. Directed graphs model one-way relationships: social media follows, web links, traffic flow, food chains, and more. The simple change from lines to arrows makes all the difference in understanding the graph's behavior.

This is the written version of the interactive lesson above. See the full Graph Theory course.