What is the main advantage of using a priority queue in Dijkstra's algorithm?

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It allows for faster insertion of nodes
It ensures that the node with the smallest distance is processed next
It reduces the space complexity
It simplifies the implementation

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Q: What is the main advantage of using a priority queue in Dijkstra's algorithm?

Solution: Using a priority queue allows Dijkstra's algorithm to efficiently retrieve and process the node with the smallest tentative distance next.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Understand that Dijkstra's algorithm is used to find the shortest path in a graph.
Step 2: Recognize that each node in the graph has a 'tentative distance' which represents the shortest known distance from the starting node.
Step 3: Realize that we need to process nodes in order of their tentative distances, starting with the smallest.
Step 4: A priority queue is a special data structure that allows us to quickly find and remove the node with the smallest tentative distance.
Step 5: By using a priority queue, Dijkstra's algorithm can efficiently get the next node to process, making the overall algorithm faster.

What is the main advantage of using a priority queue in Dijkstra's algorithm?

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