Greedy Best-First

Search (GBFS)
Algorithm
 Introduction to Algorithm
Definition: Greedy Best-First Search is a heuristic search algorithm that selects
nodes based on their estimated distance to the goal, relying solely on a heuristic
function h(n)h(n)h(n). The algorithm is "greedy" because it always chooses the
node that appears to be closest to the goal at each step, without considering the
cost of reaching that node.

Type: Greedy search algorithm driven by a heuristic evaluation, focusing on

minimizing the estimated distance to the goal.

Goal: To quickly find a solution by expanding nodes that seem closest to the goal,
based on the heuristic alone.
 Why We Use Greedy Best-First Search
● Efficiency: GBFS is typically faster than other exhaustive search methods, as
it narrows down the search to nodes that seem closer to the goal.
● Heuristic-Driven: By leveraging heuristic information, GBFS can often find a
solution with fewer node expansions compared to uninformed search
algorithms.
● Simplicity: The algorithm is relatively straightforward, requiring only a
heuristic function and a priority queue.
 When to Use Greedy Best-First Search
● Pathfinding Problems: Ideal for navigation and pathfinding problems where
the heuristic gives an accurate measure of the distance to the goal.
● Large Search Spaces: Useful when the search space is large and exploring
all nodes would be impractical.
● Non-Cost-Sensitive Applications: Suitable for problems where reaching the
goal quickly is more important than finding the shortest path.
 Core Concept
Heuristic Guidance: GBFS relies entirely on a heuristic function h(n) that
estimates the distance from the current node nnn to the goal.

Evaluation Function: In GBFS, the evaluation function is defined as f(n)=h(n),

where only the heuristic value is considered. It does not account for the cost from
the start node to the current node.

Characteristics: The algorithm is greedy, meaning it prioritizes nodes that appear

closest to the goal based on the heuristic alone, which can lead to faster but
potentially suboptimal solutions.
 Pros and Cons of Greedy Best-First Search
Pros:

● Quick Solution: GBFS can often find a solution faster than other search methods by focusing only on the
goal-oriented heuristic.
● Simple Implementation: The algorithm is straightforward, requiring only a priority queue sorted by heuristic values.
● Effective with Reliable Heuristics: Works well in domains where the heuristic accurately reflects the true distance
to the goal.

Cons:

● Not Optimal: The algorithm may not find the shortest or least-cost path, as it does not consider the accumulated
path cost from the start node.
● Heuristic Dependency: Highly reliant on the accuracy of the heuristic. If the heuristic is misleading, the algorithm
may explore suboptimal paths or even get stuck.
● Prone to Local Minima: Without considering the entire path cost, GBFS can get stuck in regions that seem
promising locally but are not ideal globally.
 Traversal Example
Maze Navigation Example:

● Imagine navigating a maze to reach an exit. GBFS uses a heuristic that estimates the distance to the exit for each
path (e.g., "as-the-crow-flies" distance).
● The algorithm will prioritize paths that seem closest to the exit based on this distance, potentially avoiding dead ends.
● However, GBFS might choose paths that look promising initially but lead to longer overall routes, as it doesn’t
account for obstacles or twists in the maze.
 Pseudo-Code
Explanation:

● The algorithm initializes a priority queue with the starting node.

● At each step, it selects the node with the lowest heuristic value, expands its neighbors, and adds them to the queue.
● The process continues until the goal node is reached or no more nodes are available.
 Real-World Applications
● Navigation Systems: Used in GPS and mapping applications where finding a quick path is more important than the
optimal one (e.g., rerouting).
● Game Development: Used in AI pathfinding for video games to direct characters towards targets efficiently.
● Puzzle Solving: Useful in solving puzzles like the 8-puzzle, where the heuristic can guide the search towards a
solution efficiently.
● Robot Path Planning: Applied in robotics for navigating towards goals, where rapid pathfinding is essential.
 Strengths and Limitations
Strengths:

● Fast Solution Discovery: The algorithm can quickly find a path to the goal by focusing on nodes with the lowest
heuristic value.
● Low Memory Usage: Only requires storing nodes in the priority queue based on their heuristic value, making it
memory efficient.
● Simple to Implement: Uses a priority queue based on the heuristic value, requiring minimal data structures.
 Strengths and Limitations
Limitations:

● Not Guaranteed to be Optimal: Since it doesn’t consider path costs, it may produce suboptimal solutions.
● Heuristic Sensitivity: The algorithm’s effectiveness heavily depends on the quality of the heuristic function.
● Prone to Local Minima: May get trapped in regions of the search space that appear favorable according to the
heuristic but don’t lead to the best path overall.
 Summary
Greedy Best-First Search is a heuristic-driven algorithm that prioritizes nodes
based on their estimated distance to the goal, making it a fast and efficient
choice when an approximate solution is acceptable. It’s commonly used in
navigation, game development, and puzzle-solving applications where finding
a quick route is more important than finding the optimal one. However, GBFS
can be limited by its reliance on the heuristic function and may yield
suboptimal results when the heuristic is inaccurate or misleading.
 Additional Resources
GeeksforGeeks - Greedy Best First Search in AI

TutorialsPoint - Best-First Search Algorithm

Introduction to Heuristic Search - Javatpoint