Syvyyshaku

Syvyyshaku, often translated as depth-first search (DFS), is a graph traversal algorithm. It begins at a root node and explores as far as possible along each branch before backtracking. The algorithm explores each branch completely before moving to the next branch. This process continues until all reachable nodes have been visited or a specific target node is found.

In practice, syvyyshaku typically uses a stack data structure, either explicitly or implicitly through recursion, to keep track of the nodes to visit. When a node is visited, its unvisited neighbors are added to the stack. The algorithm then picks the most recently added unvisited neighbor and explores from there. If a node has no unvisited neighbors, the algorithm backtracks to the previous node and continues the search.

Syvyyshaku has various applications. It is used for finding paths between two nodes, detecting cycles in a graph, and solving puzzles like mazes. It's also a fundamental component in algorithms for topological sorting and finding connected components within a graph. The choice between syvyyshaku and its counterpart, leveyshaku (breadth-first search), depends on the specific problem being addressed and the desired properties of the traversal. Syvyyshaku is generally memory-efficient for deep graphs but may not find the shortest path in unweighted graphs.