How does Depth-First Search (DFS) work in detail?

Can you explain how Depth-First Search (DFS) works?

Sure! Depth-First Search (DFS) is an algorithm used to traverse or search through data structures like trees and graphs. It starts at a root node and explores as far as possible along each branch before backtracking.

What data structures are typically used to implement DFS?

DFS can be implemented using a stack data structure. You can use either a recursive approach, which utilizes the call stack, or an explicit stack to keep track of nodes.

Can you give me an example of how DFS works on a graph?

Absolutely! Imagine a graph with nodes A, B, C, and D. Starting from A, DFS would visit A, then B, then C, and finally backtrack to A to explore D, visiting nodes in the order A -> B -> C -> D.

What are the advantages of using DFS over other search algorithms?

DFS is memory efficient for deep graphs since it doesn't need to store all child pointers at once. It's also useful for pathfinding and solving puzzles like mazes.