An edge weight is a number attached to a network connection. In a Romeo and Juliet character network, it counts the scenes two characters share, making repeated relationships stronger than one-time connections. section 12.1
Use the weight when preparing and displaying network data:
- Store each link with source, target, and weight fields. section 12.1
- Represent undirected links in both directions when constructing an adjacency matrix, while preserving the same weight. section 12.2
- Encode stronger weights with darker color or greater opacity, and provide a legend that maps visual intensity to values. section 12.2
- Reveal the exact weight interactively, such as showing shared-scene counts in a tooltip when a matrix square is hovered. section 12.2
Shared scenes as weights
A link between Lady Capulet and the Nurse has weight 1, the Nurse and Juliet Capulet have weight 2, and Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet have weight 1. In an adjacency matrix, the Nurse–Juliet squares therefore appear darker than the other listed connections. section 12.1 section 12.2
Table 12.3 Links list for the sample dataset
|
Source
|
Target
|
Weight
|
|---|---|---|
|
Lady Capulet
|
Nurse
|
1
|
|
Nurse
|
Juliet Capulet
|
2
|
|
Romeo Montague
|
Juliet Capulet
|
1
|
Inspect the sample edge list to compare source, target, and numeric weight values directly. section 12.1
