Explore a Network

Click Lab in the top navigation, or go directly to lab.php. The graph loads automatically using the default VizSpec for the selected dataset. The force-directed layout (ForceAtlas2) runs on load and stabilizes within a few seconds — you can pause or reset it at any time from the Layout section in the sidebar.

In the Color by section of the left sidebar, select any attribute from the dropdown. The graph updates instantly. Categorical attributes (department, role…) produce a color swatch legend. Numeric attributes (scores, centrality metrics) produce a gradient legend.

If there are more than five attributes, a search box appears above the dropdown to help you find the one you need.

In the Size by section, choose a numeric attribute (or a computed metric — degree, betweenness, PageRank). Nodes scale proportionally. Combined with color, this lets you surface two dimensions simultaneously: for example, color by department and size by communication volume.

Open the Filter section and select a value from the attribute dropdown (e.g., a department name). The sidebar shows clickable tags for each group. Click one — only nodes in that group are highlighted, and the active lens fires automatically. By default this is the bridge lens, which illuminates structural brokers in gold.

Shift-click a second tag to activate a two-group comparison lens (contrast or density, depending on VizSpec configuration). Click a tag again to deselect it.

If the current VizSpec enables multiple lenses on the same trigger, a Lens switcher appears in the sidebar. Click any lens name to switch the overlay while keeping your filter active.

Available lenses include: bridge isolation periphery weak_ties contrast density ego

Hover a node to see a tooltip with its label and key attributes. Click a node to lock an info panel in the sidebar showing all of its attributes. If the ego lens is enabled, clicking a node also renders its neighbourhood (N-hop, configurable per VizSpec). Click the node again or press Escape to deselect.

You can also use the Search field at the top of the sidebar to find a specific person by name.

If the Compute panel is visible in the sidebar, click Betweenness or PageRank to compute the metric on the current graph. Once computed, the metric becomes available as a Color by or Size by attribute. Use PageRank to size nodes by influence; use Betweenness to find information-flow gatekeepers.

If the dataset has multiple edge types (e.g., communication and hierarchy), an Edge layers section appears in the sidebar. Each layer can be toggled independently. This lets you compare how different relationship types connect the same people.