sparse matrix (original) (raw)

NIST

(data structure)

**Definition:**A matrix that has relatively few non-zero (or "interesting") entries. It may be represented in much less than n × m space.

Aggregate child (... is a part of or used in me.)
list, orthogonal lists, array, or point access method.

See also ragged matrix, huge sparse array, adjacency-matrix representation, k²-tree.

Note: A n × m matrix with k non-zero entries is sparse if k << n × m. It may be faster to represent the matrix compactly as a list of the non-zero entries in coordinate format (the value and its row/column position), as a list or array of lists of entries (one list for each row), two orthogonal lists (one list for each column and one list for each row), by a point access method, or a k²-tree.

Author: PEB

Implementation

Input/output for sparse matrices stored in Harwell-Boeing Format (C)

More information

Yousef Saad's Iterative methods for sparse linear systems (PDF), chapters 1-3 of a textbook covering linear algebra and types of matrices. Sparse matrix implementations, including the coordinate format, begin on page 85 (PDF page 97). Other formats and information on a newer edition.

Go to theDictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures home page.

If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul Black.

Entry modified 8 June 2023.
HTML page formatted Wed Oct 30 12:15:31 2024.

Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "sparse matrix", inDictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed. 8 June 2023. (accessed TODAY) Available from: https://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/sparsematrix.html