Consider [bipartite graph][1]. Consider its [incidence matrix][2]. It will have a form 0 A^t A 0 Take matrix $A$. Consider the null-space $L$ of $A$ over $F_2^N$. **Question** Can we say something about the $L$ from graph theoretic perspective ? For example to determine what is minimum [Hamming weight][5] for vectors in $L$ ? In error correction codes community the following words are used: Original graph is called [Tanner graph][3] for $A$. Matrix $A$ is called [parity-check matrix][4]. Let dim(L)=k, any linear map $F_2^k \to L\subset F_2^N$ is called "encoder". [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartite_graph [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidence_matrix [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanner_graph [4]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parity-check_matrix [5]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamming_weight