Data Format

GraphML

The GraphML File Format

GraphML is a comprehensive and easy-to-use file format for graphs. It consists of a language core to describe the structural properties of a graph and a flexible extension mechanism to add application-specific data. Its main features include support of

• directed, undirected, and mixed graphs,
• hypergraphs,
• hierarchical graphs,
• graphical representations,
• references to external data,
• application-specific attribute data, and
• light-weight parsers.

Unlike many other file formats for graphs, GraphML does not use a custom syntax. Instead, it is based on XML and hence ideally suited as a common denominator for all kinds of services generating, archiving, or processing graphs.