Graph Coloring

What Does Graph Coloring Mean?

Graph coloring in computer science refers to coloring certain parts of a visual graph, often in digital form. However, IT professionals also use the term to talk about the particular constraint satisfaction problem or NP-complete problem of assigning specific colors to graph segments.

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Techopedia Explains Graph Coloring

The common scientific definition of graph coloring as a particular computer problem relates to a theoretical visual display graph. Here, a technology must assign a color to each node or part of the graph, with the additional rule that no two adjacent or connected parts can be assigned the same color. These constraints provide a computing problem through which professionals can assess the capability of a technology.

In addition to its use as a constraint problem, graph coloring as a technique is valuable for all sorts of visual dashboard and display software platforms, many of which are emerging in enterprise resource planning and similar tech industry segments. Color coding is a major part of the data visualization that provides companies the ability to digest big data that is aggregated and funneled through their software systems.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…