Chapter 22 - Network models

Summary

Networks exhibit many common patterns. What causes them? Why are they present? Are they universal across all networks or only certain kinds of networks? One way to address these questions is with models. In this chapter, we explore in-depth the classic mechanistic models of network science. Random graph models underpin much of our understanding of network phenomena, from the small world path lengths to heterogeneous degree distributions and clustering. Mathematical tools help us understand what mechanisms or minimal ingredients may explain such phenomena, from basic heuristic treatments to combinatorial tools such as generating functions.