The neighbourhood convexity

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the neighbourhood convexity ($n$-convexity) on graphs, a new finite convexity space grounded in the common closed neighbourhood closure operator. Unlike standard path-based graph convexities, $n$-convexity shows a non-canonical behaviour, giving rise to compelling structural properties and being almost never hereditary. Focusing on the properties of graphs that form $n$-convex geometries, a parity distinction emerges: an $n$-convex geometry contains a star vertex if and only if the number of its vertices is odd. Every odd-order $n$-convex geometry can be uniquely constructed by attaching a star vertex to an even-order one. We introduce the concept of quasi-stars (vertices of degree $|V|-2$) and prove a reduction property that allows systematically reducing an $n$-convex geometry by removing a pair of vertices, one of which is a quasi-star. Finally, we explore the connections between $n$-convexity and $P(G)$, the neighbourhood preorder, demonstrating that $n$-convex sets are upsets of $P(G)$ and that, in star-free $n$-convex geometries, quasi-stars correspond precisely to the maximal elements of $P(G)$. We complete our study by classifying quasi-threshold and threshold $n$-convex geometries.