As you might have gathered from this introductory chapter, there are an almost infinite number of graphs that can be created by pairing network data with a wide variety of algorithms provided either in base Gephi or through one of the many available plugins. Whether your end goal is simply to create a compelling visual image that communicates a specific story or you intend to perform some thorough network analysis using filters, graph statistics, and other tools, Gephi provides a robust framework for your explorations.

Before moving on, you might wish to learn more about the specific plugins—most of them provide some level of detail about their purpose and methodology. There are additional plugins not covered here which you might also find highly useful to create your own graphs.

In the next chapter, we'll walk through a process that will help you to scope your graph needs, and then provide an overview on how to create or access a dataset and import it into Gephi. Finally, we'll provide a brief overview on how to manage your data in the Gephi data laboratory, before moving on to creating and testing some actual graphs in Chapter 3, Selecting the Layout.