A graph G consists of a set V (or V(G)) of vertices, a set E (or E(G)) of edges, and a mapping associating to each edge e ∈ E(G) an unordered pair x, y of vertices called the endpoints (or simply the ends) of e. We say an edge is incident with its ends, and that it joins its ends. We allow x = y, in which case the edge is called a loop. A vertex is isolated when it is incident with no edges.

It is common to represent a graph by a drawing where we represent each vertex by a point in the plane, and represent edges by line segments or arcs joining some of the pairs of points. One can think e.g. of a network of roads between cities. A graph is called planar if it can be drawn in the plane such that no two edges (that is, the line segments or arcs representing the edges) cross. The topic of planarity will be dealt with in Chapter 33; we wish to deal with graphs more purely combinatorially for the present.

Thus a graph is described by a table such as the one in Fig. 1.1 that lists the ends of each edge. Here the graph we are describing has vertex set V = {x, y, z, w} and edge set E = {a, b, c, d, e, f, g}; a drawing of this graph may be found as Fig. 1.2(iv).