Network flows refer to the movement of data or resources through a network, typically represented as a directed graph. In this context, nodes represent points of interest, such as computers or routers, while edges signify the connections between them. The flow indicates how much data can be transmitted from one node to another, subject to certain capacities. In operations research and computer science, network flow problems often involve optimizing the flow to maximize efficiency or minimize costs. Common applications include transportation systems, telecommunications, and supply chain management, where understanding the flow helps improve performance and resource allocation.