Independent set (graph theory)

In graph theory, an **independent set** (also known as a stable set) is a set of vertices in a graph, none of which are adjacent to each other. In other words, a set of vertices \( S \) is called an independent set if for every pair of vertices \( u \) and \( v \) in \( S \), there is no edge connecting \( u \) and \( v \) in the graph.