small-world networks theory

Small-world networks theory explores how most nodes in a network can be reached from any other node through a surprisingly small number of connections. Imagine a large group of people where, on average, you can connect to someone far away through just a few acquaintances. This phenomenon occurs in various contexts, such as social networks, the internet, and even biological systems. The theory highlights the balance between local clustering (friends knowing friends) and global connectivity (short paths between distant nodes), emphasizing that even large and complex networks can exhibit efficient communication patterns like those found in small groups.