Graph Search Methods Graph Search Methods

• A vertex u is reachable from vertex v iff there is a • A search method starts at a given vertex v and
path from v to u. visits/labels/marks every vertex that is reachable
from v.
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Graph Search Methods Breadth-First Search

• Many graph problems solved using a search
method. • Visit start vertex and put into a FIFO queue.
ƒ Path from one vertex to another.
• Repeatedly remove a vertex from the queue, visit
ƒ Is the graph connected?
its unvisited adjacent vertices, put newly visited
ƒ Find a spanning tree. vertices into the queue.
ƒ Etc.
• Commonly used search methods:
ƒ Breadth-first search.
ƒ Depth-first search.

Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue
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Start search at vertex 1. Visit/mark/label start vertex and put in a FIFO queue.
 Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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Remove 1 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 1 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.

Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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1 1

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Remove 2 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 2 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.

Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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1 1

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5 5
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Remove 4 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 4 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.
 Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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1 1

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Remove 5 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 5 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.

Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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1 1

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Remove 3 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 3 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.

Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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1 1

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Remove 6 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 6 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.
 Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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1 1

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Remove 9 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 9 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.

Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
3
FIFO Queue
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1 1

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Remove 7 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Remove 7 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices;
put in Q. put in Q.

Breadth-First Search Example Breadth-First Search Example

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FIFO Queue 2
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FIFO Queue
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Remove 8 from Q; visit adjacent unvisited vertices; Queue is empty. Search terminates.
put in Q.
 Breadth-First Search Property Time Complexity
• Each visited vertex is put on (and so
• All vertices reachable from the start vertex removed from) the queue exactly once.
(including the start vertex) are visited. • When a vertex is removed from the queue,
we examine its adjacent vertices.
ƒ O(n) if adjacency matrix used
ƒ O(vertex degree) if adjacency lists used
• Total time
ƒ O(mn), where m is number of vertices in the
component that is searched (adjacency matrix)

Time Complexity Path From Vertex v To Vertex u

ƒ O(n + sum of component vertex degrees) (adj.

lists) • Start a breadth-first search at vertex v.
= O(n + number of edges in component) • Terminate when vertex u is visited or when
Q becomes empty (whichever occurs first).
• Time
ƒ O(n2) when adjacency matrix used
ƒ O(n+e) when adjacency lists used (e is number
of edges)

Is The Graph Connected? Connected Components

• Start a breadth-first search at any as yet
unvisited vertex of the graph.
• Start a breadth-first search at any vertex of
the graph. • Newly visited vertices (plus edges between
them) define a component.
• Graph is connected iff all n vertices get
visited. • Repeat until all vertices are visited.
• Time
ƒ O(n2) when adjacency matrix used
ƒ O(n+e) when adjacency lists used (e is number
of edges)
 Connected Components Time Complexity

2
ƒ O(n2) when adjacency matrix used
ƒ O(n+e) when adjacency lists used (e
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1
is number of edges)
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Spanning Tree Spanning Tree

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• Start a breadth-first search at any vertex of
3 the graph.
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1 • If graph is connected, the n-1 edges used to
get to unvisited vertices define a spanning
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tree (breadth-first spanning tree).
• Time
ƒ O(n2) when adjacency matrix used
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7 ƒ O(n+e) when adjacency lists used (e is number
of edges)
Breadth-first search from vertex 1.
Breadth-first spanning tree.

Depth-First Search Depth-First Search Example

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1
depthFirstSearch(v)
{ 4
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9
Label vertex v as reached. 10

for (each unreached vertex u

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depthFirstSearch(u); Start search at vertex 1.

Label vertex 1 and do a depth first search
} from either 2 or 4.
Suppose that vertex 2 is selected.
 Depth-First Search Example Depth-First Search Example
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Label vertex 2 and do a depth first search Label vertex 5 and do a depth first search
from either 3, 5, or 6. from either 3, 7, or 9.
Suppose that vertex 5 is selected. Suppose that vertex 9 is selected.

Depth-First Search Example Depth-First Search Example

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Label vertex 9 and do a depth first search

Label vertex 8 and return to vertex 9.
from either 6 or 8.
Suppose that vertex 8 is selected. From vertex 9 do a dfs(6).

Depth-First Search Example Depth-First Search Example

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Label vertex 6 and do a depth first search from

either 4 or 7. Label vertex 4 and return to 6.
Suppose that vertex 4 is selected. From vertex 6 do a dfs(7).
 Depth-First Search Example Depth-First Search Example
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Label vertex 7 and return to 6.

Return to 9. Return to 5.

Depth-First Search Example Depth-First Search Example

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Label 3 and return to 5.

Return to 2.
Do a dfs(3).

Depth-First Search Example Depth-First Search Example

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Return to 1. Return to invoking method.

 Depth-First Search Properties
• Same complexity as BFS.
• Same properties with respect to path
finding, connected components, and
spanning trees.
• Edges used to reach unlabeled vertices
define a depth-first spanning tree when the
graph is connected.
• There are problems for which bfs is better
than dfs and vice versa.