What it means
Link analysis represents entities and relationships so analysts can examine clusters, central nodes, paths, shared attributes, and evidence gaps.
Why it matters
Visual relationships can reveal useful patterns, but a graph is only as reliable as the underlying evidence and relationship definitions.
Practical focus
- Define entity and relationship types
- Attach source, time, and confidence to each link
- Distinguish observed from inferred relationships
- Use the graph to generate testable questions
Common mistakes
- Treating visual proximity as proof
- Mixing relationships with different meanings
- Hiding uncertain or conflicting links
- Building a graph too dense to support decisions
Certification relevance
This subject appears in or supports the following certification bodies of knowledge: