How can I implement maze-solving algorithms?

How can I implement maze-solving algorithms?

You can implement maze-solving algorithms like Depth-First Search, Breadth-First Search, or A* Search. Which one are you interested in?

I'm interested in the A* Search algorithm. How does it work?

A* Search uses a heuristic to estimate the cost from the current node to the goal, combining it with the cost to reach the current node. This helps it find the most efficient path.

What data structures do I need for A* Search?

You'll need a priority queue to manage the open set of nodes, and a map or dictionary to keep track of the cost to reach each node.

Can you provide a simple code example?

Sure! Here's a basic implementation in Python:

import heapq

def a_star(start, goal, h):
    open_set = []
    heapq.heappush(open_set, (0, start))
    came_from = {}
    g_score = {start: 0}
    f_score = {start: h(start, goal)}

    while open_set:
        current = heapq.heappop(open_set)[1]
        if current == goal:
            return reconstruct_path(came_from, current)

        for neighbor in get_neighbors(current):
            tentative_g_score = g_score[current] + cost(current, neighbor)
            if tentative_g_score < g_score.get(neighbor, float('inf')):
                came_from[neighbor] = current
                g_score[neighbor] = tentative_g_score
                f_score[neighbor] = tentative_g_score + h(neighbor, goal)
                if neighbor not in [i[1] for i in open_set]:
                    heapq.heappush(open_set, (f_score[neighbor], neighbor))
    return False

Thanks! That helps a lot.