Western Governors University (WGU) ICSC2100 C949 Data Structures and Algorithms I Practice Exam

In graph theory, a vertex represents an item within a graph. A vertex (also known as a node) is a fundamental unit by which graphs are formed, typically representing entities such as points, locations, or objects in a model. Vertices are connected by edges, which represent the relationships or connections between those items.

Understanding vertices is crucial in various applications, including social networks, transportation systems, and computer networks, where each vertex might represent a person, a city, or a computer, respectively. Each vertex may hold data and has connections (edges) to other vertices that describe how they relate to each other.

While a node is often used interchangeably with the term "vertex" in certain contexts, in the strict sense of graph theory, the term vertex is preferred in most formal definitions. Lists are data structures used to store collections of items but do not represent items within a graph itself. Edges represent the connections between vertices but are not standalone items within the graph.