Connectivityplural

Connectivityplural is a neologism used in discussions of complex systems to describe the presence or measurement of multiple, simultaneous connectivity pathways within a network. The term blends connectivity with the idea of plurality, highlighting multiplicity of connections across components, layers, or dimensions rather than a single path.

In practice, connectivityplural can refer to several related ideas: path redundancy within a single-layer network, captured by edge- and vertex-connectivity and by the number of edge- or vertex-disjoint paths; cross-layer or multiplex connectivity, where different network layers (physical, logical, social) provide independent routes between the same pair of nodes; and resilience-oriented connectivity, focusing on the ability of a network to stay connected under failures by maintaining alternative pathways.

Some authors use the term to denote the aggregate multiplicity of connections across layers, while others use it more informally as a heuristic indicator of redundancy.

Because connectivityplural is not an established term, definitions and usage vary by author and field. The concept appears in discussions of communications networks, transportation grids, biological signaling networks, and supply chains, where multiple pathways support reliability and performance. Critics caution that the phrase can be vague or redundant with existing concepts such as connectivity, multiplex networks, and redundancy; when used, it is advisable to specify the exact metrics, such as algebraic connectivity, edge-connectivity, or cross-layer connectivity measures.

Related topics include graph theory, network connectivity, multiplex networks, and network resilience.