Network visualizations are some of the most powerful tools for communicating information about relationships and connections. The vast amount of information in many networks can make it tricky to create clear visualizations, sometimes resulting in confusing hairballs. NetworkX is capable of producing many types of visualizations, going well beyond those seen in this book so far. This chapter covers some more advanced visualization techniques, including additional layouts and methods for focusing on the most important parts of a network.

The topics in this chapter include the following:

• Beyond the hairball: Understanding what makes a good visualization, the challenges of visualizing networks, and general approaches for addressing those challenges
• Circular layout: A simple method for visualizing smaller networks
• Shell layout: A technique for visualizing centrality...