Network Flow
Network flow is a fundamental concept in graph theory and computer science that models the flow of resources (like data, traffic, or commodities) through a network of nodes and edges with capacity constraints. It involves finding the maximum flow from a source node to a sink node, or analyzing flow distribution, using algorithms like Ford-Fulkerson or Edmonds-Karp. This concept is widely applied in optimization, network design, and logistics problems.
Developers should learn network flow for solving optimization problems in areas such as transportation logistics (e.g., maximizing goods delivery), computer networks (e.g., bandwidth allocation), and matching algorithms (e.g., bipartite matching in job assignments). It's essential in competitive programming, algorithm design, and when building systems that require efficient resource routing, like in cloud computing or telecommunications.