Målnoden

Målnoden, in graph-theoretic and algorithmic contexts, is the designated target or endpoint node that a search or traversal aims to reach. In Swedish terminology it is often referred to as the goal node or destination node. The målnoden is typically denoted t in formal descriptions, with the problem defined on a graph G = (V, E).

In pathfinding and planning, the objective is usually to find a path from a start node s to the målnoden t that optimizes some criterion, such as minimizing cost or distance. Algorithms like breadth-first search (BFS), depth-first search (DFS), Dijkstra’s algorithm, and A* search expand nodes and explore edges until the målnoden is reached or declared unreachable. When the målnoden is discovered, the algorithm can reconstruct the path from s to t and report it as the solution.

Variants and considerations include the nature of the graph. In weighted graphs, edge costs affect which path to t is chosen, with Dijkstra and A* prioritizing lower-cost routes. In directed graphs, reachability to the målnoden depends on edge directions. Bidirectional search explicitly grows from both s and t and aims to meet near the målnoden. In planning problems and state-space representations, the målnoden often corresponds to a goal state that signifies completion or success.

Examples of usage appear in navigation systems (themålnoden is the destination), game AI (the goal state), and network routing (the destination node). Terminology may vary, but the concept remains the same: the målnoden is the end point that defines the objective of the search or optimization process.