What data structure is commonly used to implement the priority queue in Dijkstra
Practice Questions
Q1
What data structure is commonly used to implement the priority queue in Dijkstra's algorithm?
Array
Linked List
Binary Heap
Stack
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What data structure is commonly used to implement the priority queue in Dijkstra's algorithm?
Step 1: Understand what a priority queue is. A priority queue is a data structure that allows you to store elements with priorities, where the element with the highest priority is served before others.
Step 2: Learn about Dijkstra's algorithm. Dijkstra's algorithm is used to find the shortest path from a starting node to all other nodes in a graph.
Step 3: Recognize the need for a priority queue in Dijkstra's algorithm. The algorithm repeatedly selects the node with the smallest distance (or priority) to explore next.
Step 4: Identify the common data structure used for the priority queue in Dijkstra's algorithm. A binary heap is often used because it allows for efficient operations.
Step 5: Understand how a binary heap works. In a binary heap, you can quickly find and remove the smallest element, which is essential for Dijkstra's algorithm.
