Characteristic path length is the average shortest path length across the network, describing typical separation between nodes. In contrast, network diameter is the length of the longest shortest path, capturing the maximum separation between the two most distant nodes.
Conditions: The network is connected so that pairwise shortest-path distances are defined.; The average is taken over distinct node pairs.
Characteristic path length is the average shortest path length across the network, describing typical separation between nodes. In contrast, network diameter is the length of the longest shortest path, capturing the maximum separation between the two most distant nodes.
Conditions: The network is connected so that pairwise shortest-path distances are defined.; The average is taken over distinct node pairs.