Graph coloring is nothing but a simple way of labelling graph components such as vertices, edges, and regions under some constraints. In a graph, no two adjacent vertices, adjacent edges, or adjacent regions are colored with minimum number of colors. This number is called the chromatic number and the graph is called a properly colored graph.

While graph coloring, the constraints that are set on the graph are colors, order of coloring, the way of assigning color, etc. A coloring is given to a vertex or a particular region. Thus, the vertices or regions having same colors form independent sets.

Vertex Coloring

Vertex coloring is an assignment of colors to the vertices of a graph ‘G’ such that no two adjacent vertices have the same color. Simply put, no two vertices of an edge should be of the same color.

Chromatic Number

The minimum number of colors required for vertex coloring of graph ‘G’ is called as the chromatic number of G, denoted by X(G).

χ(G) = 1 if and only if ’G’ is a null graph. If ’G’ is not a null graph, then χ(G) ≥ 2

Example

Note − A graph ‘G’ is said to be n-coverable if there is a vertex coloring that uses at most n colors, i.e., X(G) ≤ n.

Region Coloring

Region coloring is an assignment of colors to the regions of a planar graph such that no two adjacent regions have the same color. Two regions are said to be adjacent if they have a common edge.

Example

Take a look at the following graph. The regions ‘aeb’ and ‘befc’ are adjacent, as there is a common edge ‘be’ between those two regions.

Similarly the other regions are also coloured based on the adjacency. This graph is coloured as follows −

Example

The chromatic number of K_n is

a) n

b) n–1

c) ⌊n2⌋

d) ⌈n2⌉

Consider this example with K₄.

In the complete graph, each vertex is adjacent to remaining (n – 1) vertices. Hence, each vertex requires a new color. Hence the chromatic number of K_n = n.

Applications of Graph Coloring

Graph coloring is one of the most important concepts in graph theory. It is used in many real-time applications of computer science such as −

• Clustering
• Data mining
• Image capturing
• Image segmentation
• Networking
• Resource allocation
• Processes scheduling