Dijkstra Algorithm Questions Medium
The role of a minimum distance in the Dijkstra Algorithm is to keep track of the shortest distance from the source vertex to all other vertices in a weighted graph. It is used to determine the next vertex to visit during the algorithm's execution.
Initially, all vertices are assigned a tentative distance value, which is set to infinity except for the source vertex, which is set to 0. The algorithm then selects the vertex with the minimum distance as the current vertex and explores its neighboring vertices.
For each neighboring vertex, the algorithm calculates the distance from the source vertex through the current vertex and compares it with the tentative distance value assigned to that neighboring vertex. If the calculated distance is smaller, the tentative distance is updated.
This process continues until all vertices have been visited or the destination vertex is reached. The minimum distance values are continuously updated as the algorithm progresses, ensuring that the shortest path from the source vertex to each vertex is determined.
In summary, the minimum distance plays a crucial role in the Dijkstra Algorithm by guiding the algorithm's exploration of the graph and allowing it to find the shortest path from the source vertex to all other vertices.