Algorithm Design Questions Medium
The main difference between a breadth-first search (BFS) and a depth-first search (DFS) algorithm lies in the order in which they explore the nodes of a graph or tree.
BFS explores the graph or tree level by level, starting from the root node and moving to its adjacent nodes before moving to the next level. It uses a queue data structure to keep track of the nodes to be explored. This means that BFS visits all the nodes at the same level before moving to the next level. It guarantees that the shortest path between the starting node and any other node is found, making it suitable for finding the shortest path or the minimum number of steps required to reach a goal.
On the other hand, DFS explores the graph or tree by going as deep as possible along each branch before backtracking. It starts from the root node and explores as far as possible along each branch before backtracking to the previous node and exploring the next branch. It uses a stack data structure to keep track of the nodes to be explored. DFS does not guarantee finding the shortest path, but it is useful for tasks such as finding all possible paths, detecting cycles, or searching for a specific node.
In summary, BFS explores the graph or tree level by level, while DFS explores it branch by branch. BFS guarantees finding the shortest path, while DFS is useful for tasks like finding all possible paths or detecting cycles. The choice between BFS and DFS depends on the specific problem and the desired outcome.