Persistence Homology of Networks: Methods and Applications
Pith reviewed 2026-05-24 18:38 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
A unified framework organizes recent approaches to persistent homology on networks while highlighting conceptual distinctions between filtrations.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
The authors develop a unified framework to describe recent approaches to persistent homology on networks, emphasize major conceptual distinctions among them, review different filtrations and algorithms, and point to applications in network mining problems.
What carries the argument
The unified framework that groups methods for defining persistent homology on networks by their choice of filtration and isolates the main conceptual distinctions among those choices.
If this is right
- Persistent homology supplies global topological summaries that persist across scales and are missed by local graph measures.
- Choice of filtration determines which topological features are tracked in a given network.
- The same network can yield different persistence diagrams depending on the filtration chosen.
- Algorithms differ in how they compute these diagrams from network data.
- Applications include measuring similarity or distance between entire networks on the basis of topology.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- The framework may help practitioners match a filtration to the scale and type of network they study.
- The distinctions drawn could serve as a starting point for comparing computational cost across methods.
- Future work could test whether the same distinctions apply when persistent homology is combined with other network descriptors.
Load-bearing premise
The selected recent approaches that receive significant attention in the mathematics and data mining communities are representative of the key advancements in applying persistent homology to networks.
What would settle it
Identification of a widely used method for persistent homology on networks that cannot be accommodated inside the proposed unified framework or that contradicts the stated conceptual distinctions.
Figures
read the original abstract
Information networks are becoming increasingly popular to capture complex relationships across various disciplines, such as social networks, citation networks, and biological networks. The primary challenge in this domain is measuring similarity or distance between networks based on topology. However, classical graph-theoretic measures are usually local and mainly based on differences between either node or edge measurements or correlations without considering the topology of networks such as the connected components or holes. In recent years, mathematical tools and deep learning based methods have become popular to extract the topological features of networks. Persistent homology (PH) is a mathematical tool in computational topology that measures the topological features of data that persist across multiple scales with applications ranging from biological networks to social networks. In this paper, we provide a conceptual review of key advancements in this area of using PH on complex network science. We give a brief mathematical background on PH, review different methods (i.e. filtrations) to define PH on networks and highlight different algorithms and applications where PH is used in solving network mining problems. In doing so, we develop a unified framework to describe these recent approaches and emphasize major conceptual distinctions. We conclude with directions for future work. We focus our review on recent approaches that get significant attention in the mathematics and data mining communities working on network data. We believe our summary of the analysis of PH on networks will provide important insights to researchers in applied network science.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The manuscript is a conceptual review of persistent homology (PH) applied to complex networks (e.g., social, citation, biological). It supplies brief mathematical background on PH, surveys filtrations and methods for defining PH on networks, discusses algorithms and applications in network mining, develops a unified framework for describing recent approaches while highlighting conceptual distinctions, and outlines future directions. The scope is restricted to methods receiving significant attention in the mathematics and data mining communities.
Significance. If the unified framework is coherent and the literature summary accurate, the review would provide a useful organizing reference for applied network scientists seeking to incorporate topological data analysis. The work contains no new theorems, empirical results, or parameter-dependent claims; its value lies in synthesis and clarification of distinctions among existing methods.
minor comments (1)
- The abstract states that the review 'develop[s] a unified framework'; the manuscript should make explicit (e.g., in an early section) whether this framework is a new synthesis or a reorganization of prior taxonomies.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for their positive assessment of the manuscript and for recommending acceptance. The report contains no major comments requiring a point-by-point response.
Circularity Check
Review paper with no internal derivations or load-bearing claims
full rationale
This is a survey paper whose stated purpose is to review external literature on persistent homology applied to networks, provide background, and organize existing methods into a unified descriptive framework. No new theorems, equations, empirical predictions, or fitted parameters are asserted anywhere in the manuscript. The scope limitation to 'approaches that get significant attention' is an explicit boundary condition, not a derived result. All technical content is attributed to prior work; no step reduces by construction to the paper's own inputs or self-citations.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
In: Social Network Data Analytics, pp
Bhagat, S., Cormode, G., Muthukrishnan, S.: Node classification in social networks. In: Social Network Data Analytics, pp. 115–148. Springer, US (2011)
work page 2011
-
[2]
Network Embedding: on Compression and Learning
Akbas, E., Aktas, M.: Network embedding: on compression and learning. arXiv preprint arXiv:1907.02811 (2019)
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 1907
-
[3]
Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment10(11), 1298–1309 (2017)
Akbas, E., Zhao, P.: Truss-based community search: a truss-equivalence based indexing approach. Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment10(11), 1298–1309 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[4]
Akbas, E., Zhao, P.: Attributed graph clustering: An attribute-aware graph embedding approach. In: Proceedings of the 2017 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining 2017. ASONAM ’17, pp. 305–308. ACM, New York, NY, USA (2017)
work page 2017
-
[5]
In: International Conference on Conceptual Modeling, pp
Lopes, G.R., Moro, M.M., Wives, L.K., De Oliveira, J.P.M.: Collaboration recommendation on academic social networks. In: International Conference on Conceptual Modeling, pp. 190–199 (2010). Springer
work page 2010
-
[6]
Molecular systems biology 3(1), 88 (2007)
Sharan, R., Ulitsky, I., Shamir, R.: Network-based prediction of protein function. Molecular systems biology 3(1), 88 (2007)
work page 2007
-
[7]
In: Proceedings of the Forty-eighth Annual ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing, pp
Babai, L.: Graph isomorphism in quasipolynomial time. In: Proceedings of the Forty-eighth Annual ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing, pp. 684–697 (2016). ACM
work page 2016
-
[8]
Baur, M., Benkert, M.: Network comparison. In: Network Analysis, pp. 318–340. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg (2005)
work page 2005
-
[9]
Applied mathematics letters21(1), 86–94 (2008)
Zager, L.A., Verghese, G.C.: Graph similarity scoring and matching. Applied mathematics letters21(1), 86–94 (2008)
work page 2008
-
[10]
Journal of Machine Learning Research11(Apr), 1201–1242 (2010) Aktas et al
Vishwanathan, S.V.N., Schraudolph, N.N., Kondor, R., Borgwardt, K.M.: Graph kernels. Journal of Machine Learning Research11(Apr), 1201–1242 (2010) Aktas et al. Page 25 of 26
work page 2010
-
[11]
In: Che, W., Han, Q., Wang, H., Jing, W., Peng, S., Lin, J., Sun, G., Song, X., Song, H., Lu, Z
Xu, H., Zhang, J., Yang, J., Lun, L.: Measurement of nodes importance for complex networks structural-holes-oriented. In: Che, W., Han, Q., Wang, H., Jing, W., Peng, S., Lin, J., Sun, G., Song, X., Song, H., Lu, Z. (eds.) Social Computing, pp. 458–469. Springer, Singapore (2016)
work page 2016
-
[12]
International Journal of High Performance Computing and Networking12(3), 314–323 (2018)
Xu, H., Zhang, J., Yang, J., Lun, L.: Assessing nodes’ importance in complex networks using structural holes. International Journal of High Performance Computing and Networking12(3), 314–323 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[13]
American journal of botany104(3), 349–353 (2017)
Li, M., Duncan, K., Topp, C.N., Chitwood, D.H.: Persistent homology and the branching topologies of plants. American journal of botany104(3), 349–353 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[14]
The Ring of Algebraic Functions on Persistence Bar Codes
Adcock, A., Carlsson, E., Carlsson, G.: The ring of algebraic functions on persistence bar codes. arXiv preprint arXiv:1304.0530 (2013)
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2013
-
[15]
Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 45(1), 61–75 (2008)
Ghrist, R.: Barcodes: the persistent topology of data. Bulletin of the American Mathematical Society 45(1), 61–75 (2008)
work page 2008
-
[16]
EPJ Data Science6(1), 7 (2017)
Patania, A., Vaccarino, F., Petri, G.: Topological analysis of data. EPJ Data Science6(1), 7 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[17]
EPJ Data Science6(1), 17 (2017)
Otter, N., Porter, M.A., Tillmann, U., Grindrod, P., Harrington, H.A.: A roadmap for the computation of persistent homology. EPJ Data Science6(1), 17 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[18]
International Journal of Shape Modeling11(02), 149–187 (2005)
Carlsson, G., Zomorodian, A., Collins, A., Guibas, L.J.: Persistence barcodes for shapes. International Journal of Shape Modeling11(02), 149–187 (2005)
work page 2005
-
[19]
In: Proceedings 41st Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, pp
Edelsbrunner, H., Letscher, D., Zomorodian, A.: Topological persistence and simplification. In: Proceedings 41st Annual Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, pp. 454–463 (2000). IEEE
work page 2000
-
[20]
Petri, G., Scolamiero, M., Donato, I., Vaccarino, F.: Topological strata of weighted complex networks. PloS one 8(6), 66506 (2013)
work page 2013
-
[21]
In: Signals, Systems and Computers, 2016 50th Asilomar Conference On, pp
Chowdhury, S., Mémoli, F.: Persistent homology of directed networks. In: Signals, Systems and Computers, 2016 50th Asilomar Conference On, pp. 77–81 (2016). IEEE
work page 2016
-
[22]
A functorial Dowker theorem and persistent homology of asymmetric networks
Chowdhury, S., Mémoli, F.: A functorial dowker theorem and persistent homology of asymmetric networks. arXiv preprint arXiv:1608.05432 (2018)
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2018
-
[23]
Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment2009(03), 03034 (2009)
Horak, D., Maletić, S., Rajković, M.: Persistent homology of complex networks. Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment2009(03), 03034 (2009)
work page 2009
-
[24]
IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics24, 822–831 (2018)
Rieck, B., Fugacci, U., Lukasczyk, J., Leitte, H.: Clique community persistence: A topological visual analysis approach for complex networks. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics24, 822–831 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[25]
IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing65(2), 319–334 (2017)
Huang, W., Ribeiro, A.: Persistent homology lower bounds on high-order network distances. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing65(2), 319–334 (2017)
work page 2017
-
[26]
Gasparovic, E., Gommel, M., Purvine, E., Sazdanovic, R., Wang, B., Wang, Y., Ziegelmeier, L.: A complete characterization of the 1-dimensional intrinsic cech persistence diagrams for metric graphs. arXiv preprint arXiv:1702.07379 (2017)
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2017
-
[27]
Comparing Graphs via Persistence Distortion
Dey, T.K., Shi, D., Wang, Y.: Comparing graphs via persistence distortion. arXiv preprint arXiv:1503.07414 (2015)
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2015
-
[28]
In: Gonçalves, B., Menezes, R., Sinatra, R., Zlatic, V
Pal, S., Moore, T.J., Ramanathan, R., Swami, A.: Comparative topological signatures of growing collaboration networks. In: Gonçalves, B., Menezes, R., Sinatra, R., Zlatic, V. (eds.) Complex Networks VIII, pp. 201–209. Springer, Cham (2017)
work page 2017
-
[29]
Foundations of computational mathematics10(4), 367–405 (2010)
Carlsson, G., De Silva, V.: Zigzag persistence. Foundations of computational mathematics10(4), 367–405 (2010)
work page 2010
-
[30]
In: Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, pp
Chowdhury, S., Mémoli, F.: Persistent path homology of directed networks. In: Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, pp. 1152–1169 (2018). SIAM
work page 2018
-
[31]
Rips filtrations for quasi-metric spaces and asymmetric functions with stability results
Turner, K.: Generalizations of the rips filtration for quasi-metric spaces with persistent homology stability results. arXiv preprint arXiv:1608.00365 (2016)
work page internal anchor Pith review Pith/arXiv arXiv 2016
-
[32]
Network Neuroscience, 1–18 (2018)
Sizemore, A.E., Phillips-Cremins, J.E., Ghrist, R., Bassett, D.S.: The importance of the whole: topological data analysis for the network neuroscientist. Network Neuroscience, 1–18 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[33]
In: Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Workshops, pp
Seversky, L.M., Davis, S., Berger, M.: On time-series topological data analysis: New data and opportunities. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Workshops, pp. 59–67 (2016)
work page 2016
-
[34]
In: Computational Topology in Image Context, pp
Wagner, H., Dłotko, P., Mrozek, M.: Computational topology in text mining. In: Computational Topology in Image Context, pp. 68–78. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg (2012)
work page 2012
-
[35]
Journal of Multivariate Analysis101(9), 2184–2199 (2010)
Gamble, J., Heo, G.: Exploring uses of persistent homology for statistical analysis of landmark-based shape data. Journal of Multivariate Analysis101(9), 2184–2199 (2010)
work page 2010
-
[36]
Biology direct10(1), 32 (2015)
Benzekry, S., Tuszynski, J.A., Rietman, E.A., Klement, G.L.: Design principles for cancer therapy guided by changes in complexity of protein-protein interaction networks. Biology direct10(1), 32 (2015)
work page 2015
-
[37]
In: Proceedings of ECCS 2014, pp
Rucco, M., Castiglione, F., Merelli, E., Pettini, M.: Characterisation of the idiotypic immune network through persistent entropy. In: Proceedings of ECCS 2014, pp. 117–128. Springer, Cham (2016)
work page 2014
-
[38]
(eds.) Entropy, von Neumann and the von Neumann Entropy, pp
Petz, D.: In: Rédei, M., Stöltzner, M. (eds.) Entropy, von Neumann and the von Neumann Entropy, pp. 83–96. Springer, Dordrecht (2001)
work page 2001
-
[39]
Journal of computational neuroscience 41(1), 1–14 (2016)
Giusti, C., Ghrist, R., Bassett, D.S.: Two’s company, three (or more) is a simplex. Journal of computational neuroscience 41(1), 1–14 (2016)
work page 2016
-
[40]
Journal of computational neuroscience44(1), 115–145 (2018)
Sizemore, A.E., Giusti, C., Kahn, A., Vettel, J.M., Betzel, R.F., Bassett, D.S.: Cliques and cavities in the human connectome. Journal of computational neuroscience44(1), 115–145 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[41]
In: International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, pp
Chung, M.K., Hanson, J.L., Lee, H., Adluru, N., Alexander, A.L., Davidson, R.J., Pollak, S.D.: Persistent homological sparse network approach to detecting white matter abnormality in maltreated children: Mri and dti multimodal study. In: International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention, pp. 300–307 (2013). Springer
work page 2013
-
[42]
Khalid, A., Kim, B.S., Chung, M.K., Ye, J.C., Jeon, D.: Tracing the evolution of multi-scale functional networks in a mouse model of depression using persistent brain network homology. NeuroImage101, 351–363 (2014)
work page 2014
-
[43]
Page 26 of 26 identifying the holes of knowledge
Salnikov, V., Cassese, D., Lambiotte, R., Jones, N.S.: Co-occurrence simplicial complexes in mathematics: Aktas et al. Page 26 of 26 identifying the holes of knowledge. Applied Network Science3(1), 37 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[44]
EPJ Data Science8(1), 1 (2019)
Ignacio, P.S.P., Darcy, I.K.: Tracing patterns and shapes in remittance and migration networks via persistent homology. EPJ Data Science8(1), 1 (2019)
work page 2019
-
[45]
Suh, A., Hajij, M., Wang, B., Scheidegger, C., Rosen, P.: Driving interactive graph exploration using 0-dimensional persistent homology features. CoRRabs/1712.05548 (2017). 1712.05548
-
[46]
International journal of pattern recognition and artificial intelligence18(03), 265–298 (2004)
Conte, D., Foggia, P., Sansone, C., Vento, M.: Thirty years of graph matching in pattern recognition. International journal of pattern recognition and artificial intelligence18(03), 265–298 (2004)
work page 2004
-
[47]
IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence26(10), 1367–1372 (2004)
Cordella, L.P., Foggia, P., Sansone, C., Vento, M.: A (sub) graph isomorphism algorithm for matching large graphs. IEEE transactions on pattern analysis and machine intelligence26(10), 1367–1372 (2004)
work page 2004
-
[48]
Pattern Analysis and applications 13(1), 113–129 (2010)
Gao, X., Xiao, B., Tao, D., Li, X.: A survey of graph edit distance. Pattern Analysis and applications 13(1), 113–129 (2010)
work page 2010
-
[49]
Journal of Machine Learning Research12(Sep), 2539–2561 (2011)
Shervashidze, N., Schweitzer, P., Leeuwen, E.J.v., Mehlhorn, K., Borgwardt, K.M.: Weisfeiler-lehman graph kernels. Journal of Machine Learning Research12(Sep), 2539–2561 (2011)
work page 2011
-
[50]
Journal of Complex Networks5(2), 245–273 (2016)
Sizemore, A., Giusti, C., Bassett, D.S.: Classification of weighted networks through mesoscale homological features. Journal of Complex Networks5(2), 245–273 (2016)
work page 2016
-
[51]
In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Complex Systems 2012, pp
Petri, G., Scolamiero, M., Donato, I., Vaccarino, F.: Networks and cycles: a persistent homology approach to complex networks. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Complex Systems 2012, pp. 93–99 (2013). Springer
work page 2012
-
[52]
Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science 306, 5–18 (2014)
Binchi, J., Merelli, E., Rucco, M., Petri, G., Vaccarino, F.: jholes: A tool for understanding biological complex networks via clique weight rank persistent homology. Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science 306, 5–18 (2014)
work page 2014
-
[53]
Watts, D.J., Strogatz, S.H.: Collective dynamics of âĂŸsmall-worldâĂŹnetworks. nature393(6684), 440 (1998)
work page 1998
-
[54]
Social networks31(2), 155–163 (2009)
Opsahl, T., Panzarasa, P.: Clustering in weighted networks. Social networks31(2), 155–163 (2009)
work page 2009
-
[55]
arXiv preprint arXiv:1904.09378 (2019)
Carrière, M., Chazal, F., Ike, Y., Lacombe, T., Royer, M., Umeda, Y.: A general neural network architecture for persistence diagrams and graph classification. arXiv preprint arXiv:1904.09378 (2019)
-
[56]
In: Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, pp
Hu, N., Rustamov, R.M., Guibas, L.: Stable and informative spectral signatures for graph matching. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, pp. 2305–2312 (2014)
work page 2014
-
[57]
Mathematical Problems in Engineering 2013, 1–7 (2013)
Carstens, C.J., Horadam, K.J.: Persistent homology of collaboration networks. Mathematical Problems in Engineering 2013, 1–7 (2013)
work page 2013
-
[58]
Schauf, A., Cho, J.B., Haraguchi, M., Scott, J.J.: Discrimination of economic input-output networks using persistent homology. (2016)
work page 2016
-
[59]
In: International Conference and School on Network Science, pp
Gidea, M.: Topological data analysis of critical transitions in financial networks. In: International Conference and School on Network Science, pp. 47–59 (2017). Springer
work page 2017
-
[60]
Keil, W., Aktas, M.: Topological data analysis of attribute networks using diffusion frechet function with ego-networks. In: The 7th International Conference on Complex Networks and Their Applications (extended Abstract), Cambridge, United Kingdom, pp. 194–196 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[61]
Applied and Computational Harmonic Analysis (2018)
Martínez, D.H.D., Lee, C.H., Kim, P.T., Mio, W.: Probing the geometry of data with diffusion fréchet functions. Applied and Computational Harmonic Analysis (2018). Elsevier
work page 2018
-
[62]
Chung, M.K., Hanson, J.L., Ye, J., Davidson, R.J., Pollak, S.D.: Persistent homology in sparse regression and its application to brain morphometry. IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging34(9), 1928–1939 (2015)
work page 1928
-
[63]
Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures 23, 43–53 (2018)
Knyazeva, I., Poyda, A., Orlov, V., Verkhlyutov, V., Makarenko, N., Kozlov, S., Velichkovsky, B., Ushakov, V.: Resting state dynamic functional connectivity: Network topology analysis. Biologically Inspired Cognitive Architectures 23, 43–53 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[64]
Chowdhury, S., Dai, B., Mémoli, F.: The importance of forgetting: Limiting memory improves recovery of topological characteristics from neural data. PloS one13(9), 0202561 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[65]
Journal of neuroscience methods267, 1–13 (2016)
Yoo, J., Kim, E.Y., Ahn, Y.M., Ye, J.C.: Topological persistence vineyard for dynamic functional brain connectivity during resting and gaming stages. Journal of neuroscience methods267, 1–13 (2016)
work page 2016
-
[66]
American Mathematical Soc., Rhode Island (2010)
Edelsbrunner, H., Harer, J.: Computational Topology: an Introduction. American Mathematical Soc., Rhode Island (2010)
work page 2010
-
[67]
Journal of The Royal Society Interface11(101), 20140873 (2014)
Petri, G., Expert, P., Turkheimer, F., Carhart-Harris, R., Nutt, D., Hellyer, P.J., Vaccarino, F.: Homological scaffolds of brain functional networks. Journal of The Royal Society Interface11(101), 20140873 (2014)
work page 2014
-
[68]
2018 IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis), 125–134 (2018)
Hajij, M., Wang, B., Scheidegger, C.E., Rosen, P.: Visual detection of structural changes in time-varying graphs using persistent homology. 2018 IEEE Pacific Visualization Symposium (PacificVis), 125–134 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[69]
Computers & Security77, 49–64 (2018)
Gao, T., Li, F.: Studying the utility preservation in social network anonymization via persistent homology. Computers & Security77, 49–64 (2018)
work page 2018
-
[70]
arXiv preprint arXiv:1712.04064 (2018)
Kim, W., Memoli, F.: Stable signatures for dynamic graphs and dynamic metric spaces via zigzag persistence. arXiv preprint arXiv:1712.04064 (2018)
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.