Path-based and Whole Network Measures

Path-based measures associate a value to every node in a network according to its direct and indirect connections to other nodes. For example, given a node we can compute the maximum distance to all other nodes; this measure is called node eccentricity. Whole-network measures associate a value to an entire network, providing a summary of its structure. For example, the diameter of a network is the maximum eccentricity of its nodes, and represents a global measure of the efficiency of information dissemination in that network. In this essay we cover the most popular path-based and whole-network measures.