Graph algebras and graph varieties (Q2277500)

Let \(G=(V,E)\) be a directed graph without multiple edges, V denotes the set of vertices, E is the set of edges. Let \(\infty\) be an adjoined element. The operation \(a,b=a\) if (a,b)\(\in E\) and \(a,b=\infty\) otherwise defines the graph algebra on \(V\cup \{\infty \}\). The author proves a ``Birkhoff-type'' theorem: a class of finite directed graphs is a graph variety iff it is closed with respect to finite restricted pointed subproducts and isomorphic copies. Several applications are given.