 Site percolation

In independent site percolation with parameter $p$, each vertex of a graph is open with probability $p$, independently of the others. Retain those vertices and every original edge whose two endpoints are retained. This gives an induced subgraph, whose connected components of a graph are the percolation clusters. A closed vertex is absent from the usable network, whereas bond percolation keeps all vertices and instead removes individual edges.

A specified simple graph path of $m$ edges has $m+1$ distinct vertices. Its probability of being entirely open is therefore $p^{m+1}$, including the starting vertex. Conditional on that vertex being open, it is $p^m$ by independence. For a two-edge graph path at $p=1/2$, the unconditional probability is $1/8$, compared with $1/4$ in bond percolation. This comparison concerns a fixed route; percolation critical probabilities require analysis of all possible routes on the specified infinite graph.