Description: Degree centrality is a measure used in graph theory that evaluates the importance of a vertex in a graph based on the number of connections or edges it has. In simple terms, a vertex with high degree centrality is connected to many other vertices, suggesting it may play a crucial role in the structure of the graph. This metric is used to identify nodes that can be considered ‘influencers’ or key points within a network. Degree centrality can be classified into two types: in-degree centrality, which counts the incoming connections to a vertex, and out-degree centrality, which counts the outgoing connections from it. This measure is particularly useful in various types of networks, including social and information networks, where nodes with more connections may have a greater impact on the dissemination of information. However, degree centrality does not consider the quality or strength of the connections, which can be a limitation in certain contexts. Despite this, it remains one of the simplest and most effective metrics for analyzing the structure of complex networks, providing an initial insight into the distribution of connections and the potential influence of nodes within a system.
