Graphviz

Graphviz is software for the visual representation of structures described as graphs. It converts text descriptions of nodes and connections into diagrams in image and document formats. Its applications include system modeling, network analysis, and technical documentation.

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• Dot. A layout engine for hierarchical or directed graphs. It arranges nodes in levels, minimizing edge crossings. It is the primary engine for flowcharts, dependency trees, and organizational charts.
• Neato. A layout algorithm for undirected graphs using a spring model. It minimizes the system's energy to position nodes. It is used in network diagrams, mind maps, and circular data structures.
• Fdp. An engine for undirected graphs using a force-directed algorithm. It layouts large graphs by simulating repulsive forces between nodes. It is used in social network visualization and infrastructure graphs.
• Twopi. A radial layout that positions nodes on concentric circles. One node is placed at the center and others on rings according to their distance. It is for graphs of relationships centered on a key point.
• Circo. A circular layout that arranges nodes on a circle. It is specialized for cyclic graphs or ring structures. It visualizes ring connections and modular graphs.
• Sfdp. A multiscale version of neato for large graphs. It clusters nodes into regions before detailed positioning. It handles graphs with thousands of nodes, such as circuit maps or extensive hierarchies.
• Osage. An engine for "cluster map" type diagrams. It layouts graphs where nodes can contain nested subgraphs. It represents clustering structures or nested containers.
• Patchwork. A layout based on mosaic-like tessellation. It represents nodes as rectangles proportional to an attribute. It creates treemap-style diagrams for visualizing weighted hierarchical data.
• Description with the DOT language. A text language for defining graphs. It specifies nodes, edges, attributes, and subgraphs. .dot files are the input for all layout engines.
• Rendering in multiple formats. Output generation in image and document formats. This includes SVG, PNG, PDF, PostScript, and image map formats. It produces diagrams for documentation, presentations, and web interfaces.
• Customizable graphic attributes. Control over colors, shapes, fonts, and line styles. It defines global, per-node, or per-edge attributes. It allows the creation of diagrams that meet specific visual standards.
• Support for subgraphs and clusters. Definition of substructures within a graph. It logically groups nodes and applies common attributes. It organizes complex diagrams into manageable components.
• Sensitive links (Image Maps). Generation of HTML image maps. It associates areas of the diagram with hyperlinks. It creates interactive diagrams for web pages and online documentation.
• Table-shaped node layout (HTML-like labels). Representation of nodes as HTML tables. It allows cells, borders, and formatted content. It models nodes with complex internal structures, like database records.
• Programming interfaces (API). Libraries for integrating Graphviz into applications. Bindings exist for languages like Python, Java, and C. It allows diagrams to be generated programmatically from code.

Graphviz is a tool developed by AT&T Labs Research. Its development began in 1987. The main creators are John Ellson, Emden Gansner, Stephen North, and other researchers. The software is primarily written in the C language. The first public version was released in 1991.

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