rearrow

Rearrow is a term used in informal technical writing to describe the operation of reversing the direction of arrows in a diagram, graph, or other directional representation. It is not a standard mathematical operator or universally defined function; its precise meaning depends on context, notation, or software.

In graph drawing and network visualization, rearrow may refer to reversing the direction of edges around a node, or reorienting a subgraph so that arrows point in the opposite direction. This can be used to emphasize bidirectional relationships, reflect changes in data flow, or refine layout aesthetics. The term is descriptive rather than prescriptive and should be clarified in any specific usage.

In software and diagramming libraries, rearrow may be implemented as a function, option, or editing tool that transforms edge data or rendering. Because there is no universal standard, different systems may apply it differently: some flip the visible arrowhead directions only, others invert the underlying edge orientation, and some adjust both data and rendering.

Etymology-wise, rearrow combines the prefix re- with arrow, signaling a change of direction. Related concepts include arrow, reverse, invert, bidirectionality, and edge reversal. Overall, rearrow is best understood as a contextual shorthand for reversing arrow directions within a given diagram or data structure, rather than a fixed formal operation.