We introduce the concept of ‘irrational paths’ for a given subshift and useit to characterize all minimal left ideals in the associated unital subshift algebra. Consequently, we characterize the socle as the sum of the ideals generated by irrational paths. Proceeding, we construct a graph such that the Leavitt path algebra of this graph is graded isomorphic to the socle. This realization allows us to show that the graded structure of the socle serves as an invariant for the conjugacy of Ott–Tomforde–Willis subshifts and for the isometric conjugacy of subshifts constructed with the product topology. Additionally, we establish that the socle of the unital subshift algebra is contained in the socle of the corresponding unital subshift C*-algebra.

We realize Leavitt ultragraph path algebras as partial skew group rings. Using this realization we characterize artinian ultragraph path algebras and give simplicity criteria for these algebras.

We define branching systems for finitely aligned higher-rank graphs. From these, we construct concrete representations of higher-rank graph C*-algebras on Hilbert spaces. We prove a generalized Cuntz–Krieger uniqueness theorem for periodic single-vertex 2-graphs. We use this result to give a sufficient condition under which representations of periodic single-vertex 2-graph C*-algebras arising from branching systems are faithful.

We continue to investigate branching systems of directed graphs and their connections with graph algebras. We give a sufficient condition under which the representation induced from a branching system of a directed graph is faithful and construct a large class of branching systems that satisfy this condition. We finish the paper by providing a proof of the converse of the Cuntz–Krieger uniqueness theorem for graph algebras by means of branching systems.