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Distance matrix
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematics</a>, <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a> and especially <a href="/facts/Graph_theory/VVPCd4TX">graph theory</a>, a distance matrix is a <a href="/facts/Square_matrix/5TP9mNNn">square matrix</a> (two-dimensional array) containing the <a href="/facts/Distance/hbXlaEFk">distances</a>, taken pairwise, between the elements of a set. Depending upon the application involved, the <i>distance</i> being used to define this matrix may or may not be a <a href="/facts/Metric_(mathematics)/RkUptSo8">metric</a>. If there are N elements, this matrix will have size <i>N</i>×<i>N</i>. In graph-theoretic applications, the elements are more often referred to as points, nodes or vertices. </p>