A Review on Graph Theory in Deep Learning

Authors

  • Ayhan A. K. Al-Shumam Artificial Intelligence Engineering Technology Department, Technical Engineering College for Computer and AI, Northern Technical University, 41001 Mosul, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9385-1087
  • Arjuwan M. A. Al-Jawadi Artificial Intelligence Engineering Technology Department, Technical Engineering College for Computer and AI, Northern Technical University, 41001 Mosul, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6410-9281

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56286/wm2yfj62

Keywords:

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), Deep learning, Graph Theory

Abstract

Graph theory has gained popularity as a flexible tool in machine learning to capture complex correlations between objects in non-Euclidean structured data. Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have proved to be effective deep learning methods to learn node and graph-level representations using message passing, attention and convolution applied to graph structures. This review classifies more than 39 GNN variants into five structural families: Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs), Graph Attention Networks (GATs), Graph Sample and Aggregate (SAGE), Graph Isomorphism Networks (GINs) and attention-augmented or hybrid models. In addition to the recent models AA-HGNN, DySAT, EGNN, DyHAN, Hyper-GNN, and MGH, which are built to include heterogeneity, scalability, dynamic graphs, and geometric invariance. These models acknowledge the increasing diversity of GNN architectures adapted to real-life requirements in such areas as recommendation systems, bioinformatics, and social networks. Additionally, the review lists important challenges to GNN development, which included overfitting, explainability, and multi-modal learning, and provides directions in the future. To illustrate the development and use of GNN models in numerous directions, this paper provides a graph-centric structure through which researchers can learn how the GNN models are evolving and how it is used in several directions.

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References

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Published

2026-04-12

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How to Cite

1.
Al-Shumam AA, Al-Jawadi AMA. A Review on Graph Theory in Deep Learning. NTU-JPS [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 12 [cited 2026 Apr. 14];5(1):79-91. Available from: https://journals.ntu.edu.iq/index.php/NTU-JPS/article/view/1453

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