Depth-First Search Visualizer

10 nodes
50%

Depth-First Search

DFS explores a graph by diving deep into each branch before backtracking. It leverages a stack—either implicitly via recursion or explicitly—to track nodes for exploration.

Algorithm Characteristics

  • Time ComplexityO(V + E)
  • Space ComplexityO(V)
  • Data StructureStack
  • CompletenessNot Guaranteed

Key Properties

  • Memory-efficient for deep graphs

  • Explore one branch completely before others

  • Not guaranteed to find the shortest path

  • Useful in topological sorting or cycle detection

DFS is memory-efficient for very deep graphs but may not find the shortest path