What does BFS mean in COMPUTING

What is BFS

Breadth-First Search (BFS) is an algorithmic technique that takes a graph data structure as its input and cycles through each of its connected components in order to find a desired item or determine whether such an item exists. When employed, it runs through elements that are closer to the root node (the initial point) before moving on to elements further away from it. In computer science terms, this iterative approach has been described as running ‘level by level’ due to its hierarchical nature. BFS is one of the most fundamental strategies in computing, with numerous applications in artificial intelligence research, software engineering and even graphic design. Variations of this tactic have also been developed over time which allow it to be applied in more specific contexts such as network routing or video game development.

How Does BFS Work

The core principles behind Breadth-First Search are fairly straightforward: starting with a given node (the root node), all connections made from said node are explored first until every single connection is accounted for. From there, subsequent iterations would proceed deeper into each branch until all possible paths have been completed and expounded upon — no matter how many levels deep that process may turn out to be — which makes it ideal for certain kinds of searches such as locating content hosted within databases or determining the shortest distance between two points on a map. The process itself works step by step; upon reaching a key attraction point (be it an answer or another layer of nodes), BFS pauses its progress briefly before resuming along another one of its offshoot branches until whatever end result was desired eventually sets in sight — something which could not necessarily be done if traditional depth-first searching techniques were employed instead due to their lack of breadth functionality.