English

Ordered graphs of bounded twin-width

Logic in Computer Science 2021-07-07 v1 Combinatorics Logic

Abstract

We consider hereditary classes of graphs equipped with a total order. We provide multiple equivalent characterisations of those classes which have bounded twin-width. In particular, we prove a grid theorem for classes of ordered graphs which have unbounded twin-width. From this we derive that the model-checking problem for first-order logic is fixed-parameter tractable over a hereditary class of ordered graphs if, and -- under common complexity-theoretic assumptions -- only if the class has bounded twin-width. For hereditary classes of ordered graphs, we show that bounded twin-width is equivalent to the NIP property from model theory, as well as the smallness condition from enumerative combinatorics. We prove the existence of a gap in the growth of hereditary classes of ordered graphs. Furthermore, we provide a grid theorem which applies to all monadically NIP classes of structures (ordered or unordered), or equivalently, classes which do not transduce the class of all finite graphs.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2102.06881,
  title  = {Ordered graphs of bounded twin-width},
  author = {Pierre Simon and Szymon Toruńczyk},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2102.06881},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2102.03117

R2 v1 2026-06-23T23:07:38.411Z