Combinatorial curvature for planar graphs

Regarding an infinite planar graph G as a discrete analogue of a noncompact simply connected Riemannian surface, we introduce the combinatorial curvature of G corresponding to the sectional curvature of a manifold. We show this curvature has the property that its negative values are bounded above by a universal negative constant. We also prove that G is hyperbolic if its curvature is negative. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 38: 220–229, 2001