The Internet has become an effective and efficient planting ground for a good number of social networks in the present time. Almost, if not, everybody is a member of at least one social networking group online. Although these have gained much success in the Web, not everyone has gained ample understanding about how these networks work.

Basically, a social network entails a structured setup consisting of individuals, organizations or any other similar entities that are technically referred to as nodes. Such interconnection is based on various elements that include simple friendship, common interests, financial binds, sexual relationships or even a dislike for something or someone.

A social network includes social relationships that work based on the network theory. This consists of ties and nodes where the nodes referring to the individual entities in the network and the ties are the relationships between them.

One of the most common features of social networks is how complex they are by nature. This is mainly because the ties between each node are not simple and one way. Various forms of ties may connect two nodes. In the overall effect, these networks come in varied levels, starting from the basics such as within a family to the most extensive such as between nations.

The analysis of the social networking phenomena has gone through many developments as well. Continuous studies about it have given a good amount of reliable and working knowledge about social relations in general. What generally started out as a term used for any relationships between members of a social system has now become a more standardized phrase in reference to the ties formed between these social entities.

Every single entity within a social network plays an essential part in the end goal for the entire network. Different networks have different goals in mind. Each member is responsible for helping out in achieving the group's goal.

Although the initial studies on social networking produced results that divulge its true nature as no anything that has to gain compensation in any forms, its growth in the modern world of computers and the Internet has set the need for patents made on any applications and systems the network uses to manage and assure the smooth flow of its operations.

Generally, it can be said that social networks started out naturally as certain individuals in various levels of the society found specific similarities with each other. Over time, however, this concept has grown and made itself more of a system that is organized and goal-oriented.