CSE 304

DFS

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 Last Class’s Topic

● Graph Representation
■ Adjacency Matrix
■ Adjacency List
● BFS – Breadth First Search

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 Breadth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], prev[V],d[V] While(Q not empty)
{
BFS(G) // starts from here u = DEQUEUE(Q);
{ for each v ∈ adj[u]{
for each vertex u ∈ if (color[v] == WHITE){
V-{s} color[v] = GREY;
{ d[v] = d[u] + 1;
color[u]=WHITE; prev[v] = u;
prev[u]=NIL; Enqueue(Q, v);
d[u]=inf; }
} }
color[s]=GRAY; color[u] = BLACK;
d[s]=0; prev[s]=NIL; }
Q=empty; }
ENQUEUE(Q,s);

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 Breadth-First Search: Print Path
Data: color[V], prev[V],d[V]

Print-Path(G, s, v)
{
if(v==s)
print(s)
else if(prev[v]==NIL)
print(No path);
else{
Print-Path(G,s,prev[v]);
print(v);
}
}

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 BFS – Questions
● Find the shortest path between “A” and “B” (with
path)? When will it fail?
● Find the most distant node from start node “A”
● How can we detect that there exists no path between
A and B using BFS?
● Print all of those nodes that are at distance 2 from
source vertex “S”.
● How can we modify BFS algorithm to check the
bipartiteness of a graph?
● Is it possible to answer that there exists more than one
path from “S” to “T” with minimum path cost?
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 Depth-First Search

● Input: 1 2
■ G = (V, E) (No source vertex given!) 3
● Goal: 5 4
■ Explore the edges of G to “discover” every vertex in V starting at the most
current visited node
■ Search may be repeated from multiple sources

● Output:
■ 2 timestamps on each vertex:
○ d[v] = discovery time
○ f[v] = finishing time (done with examining v’s adjacency list)

■ Depth-first forest
 Depth-First Search

● Search “deeper” in the graph whenever possible 1 2

● Edges are explored out of the most recently 3
discovered vertex v that still has unexplored edges 5 4

• After all edges of v have been explored, the search

“backtracks” from the parent of v
• The process continues until all vertices reachable from the
original source have been discovered
• If undiscovered vertices remain, choose one of them as a
new source and repeat the search from that vertex
• DFS creates a “depth-first forest”
 DFS Additional Data Structures
● Global variable: time-stamp
■ Incremented when nodes are discovered or finished
● color[u] – similar to BFS
■ White before discovery, gray while processing and black
when finished processing
● prev[u] – predecessor of u
● d[u], f[u] – discovery and finish times
1 ≤ d[u] < f [u] ≤ 2 |V|

WHIT GRAY BLAC

0 E d[u f[u K 2
] ] V
 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ Initialize time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if(color[v] == WHITE){
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);}
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ V color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} }
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 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if(color[v] == WHITE){
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);}
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ V color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} }
10 What does u[d] represent?
 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if(color[v] == WHITE){
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);}
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ V color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} }
11 What does f[d] represent?
 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if(color[v] == WHITE){
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);
time = 0; }}
for each vertex u ∈ V color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} }
Will all vertices eventually be colored black?
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 DFS Example
source
vertex
S D F

B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | | |

A
| |
E

| | |
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | | |

A
2 | |
E

| | |
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | | |

A
2 | |
E

3 | | |
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | | |

A
2 | |
E
3 |
| |
4
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | | |

A
2 | |
E
3 |
5 | |
4
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | | |

A
2 | |
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | | |

A
2 |
|
7
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | 8 | |

A
2 |
|
7
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | 8 | |

A
2 |
9 |
7
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G
What is the structure of the grey vertices?
What do they represent?
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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 | 8 | |

A
2 | 9
7 |10
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
8
1 | |
|11
A
2 | 9
7 |10
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 8
|
|12 |11
A
2 | 9
7 |10
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 8
13|
|12 |11
A
2 | 9
7 |10
E
3 | 5 |
|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 8
13|
|12 |11
A
2 | 9
7 |10
E
3 | 5 |
14|
4 6
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 8
13|
|12 |11
A
2 | 9
7 |10
E
3 | 5 | 14|
4 6 15
B C G

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
S D F
f
1 8 13|
|12 |11 16
A
2 | 9
7 |10
E
3 | 5 | 14|
4 6 15
B C G

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 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if (color[v] == WHITE)
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ V color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} }
What will be the running time?
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 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u] O(V)
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; O(V) if (color[v] == WHITE)
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ VO(V) color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} 2 }
Running time: O(V ) because call DFS_Visit on each vertex,
and the31loop over Adj[] can run as many as |V| times
 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if (color[v] == WHITE)
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ V color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} BUT, there is actually
} a tighter bound.
How many times will DFS_Visit() actually be called?
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 Depth-First Search: The Code
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if (color[v] == WHITE)
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ V color[u] = BLACK;
if (color[u] == WHITE) time = time+1;
DFS_Visit(u); f[u] = time;
} }
So, running time of DFS = O(V+E)
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 Depth-First Sort Analysis

● This running time argument is an informal

example of amortized analysis
■ “Charge” the exploration of edge to the edge:
○ Each loop in DFS_Visit can be attributed to an edge in
the graph
○ Runs once per edge if directed graph, twice if undirected
○ Thus loop will run in O(E) time, algorithm O(V+E)
◆ Considered linear for graph, b/c adj list requires O(V+E) storage
■ Important to be comfortable with this kind of
reasoning and analysis

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 DFS: Kinds of edges

● DFS introduces an important distinction

among edges in the original graph:
■ Tree edge: encounter new (white) vertex
○ The tree edges form a spanning forest
○ Can tree edges form cycles? Why or why not?
◆ No

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
f
1 8 13|
|12 |11 16

2 | 9
7 |10

3 | 5 | 14|
4 6 15

Tree edges

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 DFS: Kinds of edges

● DFS introduces an important distinction

among edges in the original graph:
■ Tree edge: encounter new (white) vertex
■ Back edge: from descendent to ancestor
○ Encounter a grey vertex (grey to grey)
○ Self loops are considered as to be back edge.

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
f
1 8 13|
|12 |11 16

2 | 9
7 |10

3 | 5 | 14|
4 6 15

Tree edges Back edges

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 DFS: Kinds of edges

● DFS introduces an important distinction

among edges in the original graph:
■ Tree edge: encounter new (white) vertex
■ Back edge: from descendent to ancestor
■ Forward edge: from ancestor to descendent
○ Not a tree edge, though
○ From grey node to black node

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
f
1 8 13|
|12 |11 16

2 | 9
7 |10

3 | 5 | 14|
4 6 15

Tree edges Back edges Forward edges

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 DFS: Kinds of edges

● DFS introduces an important distinction

among edges in the original graph:
■ Tree edge: encounter new (white) vertex
■ Back edge: from descendent to ancestor
■ Forward edge: from ancestor to descendent
■ Cross edge: between a tree or subtrees
○ From a grey node to a black node

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 DFS Example
source
vertex d
f
1 8 13|
|12 |11 16

2 | 9
7 |10

3 | 5 | 14|
4 6 15

Tree edges Back edges Forward edges Cross edges

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 DFS: Kinds of edges

● DFS introduces an important distinction

among edges in the original graph:
■ Tree edge: encounter new (white) vertex
■ Back edge: from descendent to ancestor
■ Forward edge: from ancestor to descendent
■ Cross edge: between a tree or subtrees
● Note: tree & back edges are important; most
algorithms don’t distinguish forward & cross

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 More about the edges

● Let (u,v) is an edge.

■ If (color[v] = WHITE) then (u,v) is a tree edge
■ If (color[v] = GRAY) then (u,v) is a back edge
■ If (color[v] = BLACK) then (u,v) is a
forward/cross edge
○ Forward Edge: d[u]<d[v]
○ Cross Edge: d[u]>d[v]

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Depth-First Search - Timestamps

a b s c
1/1 11/
3/6 2/9
0 16
B F C
B
12/ 14/
4/5 7/8
C C 13 C 15
d e f g

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Depth-First Search - Timestamps

s c
C B

F
b f g
C
a e C
B

C
d

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 Depth-First Search: Detect Edge
Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)
prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; detect edge type using
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; “color[v]”
} if(color[v] == WHITE){
time = 0; prev[v]=u;
for each vertex u ∈ V DFS_Visit(v);
if (color[u] == WHITE) }}
DFS_Visit(u); color[u] = BLACK;
} time = time+1;
f[u] = time;
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 DFS: Kinds Of Edges

● Thm 22.10: If G is undirected, a DFS produces

only tree and back edges
so
● Proof by contradiction: ur
■ Assume there’s a forward edge F? ce
○ But F? edge must actually be a
back edge (why?)

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 DFS: Kinds Of Edges

● Thm 23.9: If G is undirected, a DFS produces

only tree and back edges
so
● Proof by contradiction: ur
■ Assume there’s a cross edge ce
○ But C? edge cannot be cross:
○ must be explored from one of the
vertices it connects, becoming a tree
vertex, before other vertex is explored
○ So in fact the picture is wrong…both
lower tree edges cannot in fact be
C?
tree edges
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 DFS And Graph Cycles

● Thm: An undirected graph is acyclic iff a DFS

yields no back edges
■ If acyclic, no back edges (because a back edge
implies a cycle
■ If no back edges, acyclic
○ No back edges implies only tree edges (Why?)
○ Only tree edges implies we have a tree or a forest
○ Which by definition is acyclic

● Thus, can run DFS to find whether a graph has

a cycle
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 DFS And Cycles
How would you modify the code to detect cycles?

Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)

prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if (color[v]==WHITE){
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v);
time = 0; }
for each vertex u ∈ V }
if (color[u] == WHITE) color[u] = BLACK;
DFS_Visit(u); time = time+1;
} f[u] = time;
51 }
 DFS And Cycles
What will be the running time?

Data: color[V], time, DFS_Visit(u)

prev[V],d[V], f[V] {
DFS(G) // where prog starts color[u] = GREY;
{ time = time+1;
for each vertex u ∈ V d[u] = time;
{ for each v ∈ Adj[u]
color[u] = WHITE; {
prev[u]=NIL; if (color[v]==WHITE){
f[u]=inf; d[u]=inf; prev[v]=u;
} DFS_Visit(v); }
time = 0; else {cycle exists;}
for each vertex u ∈ V }
if (color[u] == WHITE) color[u] = BLACK;
DFS_Visit(u); time = time+1;
} f[u] = time;
52 }
 DFS And Cycles

● What will be the running time?

● A: O(V+E)
● We can actually determine if cycles exist in
O(V) time
■ How??

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 DFS And Cycles

● What will be the running time for undirected

graph to detect cycle?
● A: O(V+E)
● We can actually determine if cycles exist in
O(V) time:
■ In an undirected acyclic forest, |E| ≤ |V| - 1
■ So count the edges: if ever see |V| distinct edges,
must have seen a back edge along the way

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 DFS And Cycles

● What will be the running time for directed

graph to detect cycle?
● A: O(V+E)

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 Reference

● Cormen –
■ Chapter 22 (Elementary Graph Algorithms)
● Exercise –
■ 22.3-4 –Detect edge using d[u], d[v], f[u], f[v]
■ 22.3-11 – Connected Component
■ 22.3-12 – Singly connected

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