What are the limitations of Dijkstra's algorithm?

What are the limitations of Dijkstra's algorithm?

Dijkstra's algorithm is great for finding the shortest path, but it has some limitations. For instance, it doesn't work with negative weight edges.

Why can't it handle negative weight edges?

If there are negative weight edges, Dijkstra's algorithm may not find the shortest path because it assumes that once a node's shortest path is found, it won't change.

Are there any other limitations I should be aware of?

Yes, it can be inefficient for large graphs, as its time complexity is O(V^2) with a simple implementation, which can be improved with priority queues.

What are some alternatives to Dijkstra's algorithm?

Alternatives include the Bellman-Ford algorithm, which can handle negative weights, and A* search, which is often faster for pathfinding.