Barabási-Albert model
The Barabási-Albert model describes how networks, such as social networks or the internet, grow over time. It proposes that new connections are more likely to form with already popular nodes or hubs—this is known as "preferential attachment." In simpler terms, it's like a party where the more popular people attract more friends. As a result, some nodes end up having many connections while others have just a few, leading to a scale-free network where a few highly connected hubs dominate the structure, rather than a uniform distribution of connections.
Additional Insights
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The Barabási-Albert model describes how networks, like social media or the internet, grow over time. It shows that new connections often link to existing popular nodes, making these well-connected nodes even more prominent. This results in a "rich get richer" phenomenon, leading to a few nodes with many connections and many nodes with few. The model helps explain why certain websites or individuals gain popularity rapidly, illustrating the importance of initial advantages in network dynamics. It's a key concept in understanding how complex networks form and evolve.