Which algorithm is more memory efficient for large graphs?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which algorithm is more memory efficient for large graphs?
BFS
DFS
Both are equally efficient
Neither is efficient
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which algorithm is more memory efficient for large graphs?
Step 1: Understand what DFS (Depth-First Search) and BFS (Breadth-First Search) are. They are both algorithms used to traverse or search through graphs.
Step 2: Know that DFS explores as far down a branch as possible before backtracking, while BFS explores all neighbors at the present depth before moving on to nodes at the next depth level.
Step 3: Realize that in BFS, you need to keep track of all nodes at the current level in a queue, which can use a lot of memory, especially in large graphs.
Step 4: In contrast, DFS uses a stack (or recursion) to keep track of nodes, which typically requires less memory because it only needs to remember the current path.
Step 5: Conclude that for large graphs, DFS is generally more memory efficient than BFS because it does not store all nodes at the current level.