Using BFS algorithm to find the shortest path

Question

std::list <int> q;
std::vector<bool> visited(cols + 1);
for(int i = 1; i <= cols; i++) visited[i] = false;
visited[x] = true;
if(!l[x].empty())
{
    for(std::list<int>::iterator i = l[x].begin(); i != l[x].end(); i++)
    {
        q.push_back(x); q.push_back(* i);
    }
    while(!q.empty())
    {
        y = q.back(); q.pop_back();
        x = q.back(); q.pop_back();
        if(!visited[y])
        {
            visited[y] = true;
            if(!l[y].empty())
            for(std::list<int>::iterator i = l[y].begin(); i != l[y].end(); i++)
            {
                if(!visited[*i])
                {q.push_back(y); q.push_back(* i);}
            }
            dfst[x].push_back(y);
            if(flag != 0) dfst[y].push_back(x);
        }
    }
}

This is my DFS algorithm for finding the spanning tree in a graph. I need to convert it to the BFS algorithm finding the shortest path between two vertices. Well...how can I do this? Is the BFS algorithm somewhat similar to the one above? Or do I need to write it from the beginning?

l - adjacency list dfst - array holding spanning tree at the end x - starting vertex y - helper variable

Answer 1

DFS and BFS are essentially the same algorithms. The trick is which data structure you use, or rather which nodes you are exploring first.

A depth-first search utilizes a stack and would thus go as far down as possible before moving back in the algorithm.

To utilize a breadth first search, you would need to use a queue of nodes, and explore each node, add their neighbors (if not visited already) to the queue, and then process the rest of the parent node's neighbors before continuing onwards.

It wouldn't be a drastic change of your code, just a change in how you get nodes from your list.

Rather than popping off the back you would simply use q.pop_front() to get your nodes.