Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A route-finding algorithm is an algorithm used to determine the best path or route between two points on a map. It calculates the most efficient way to reach the destination while considering factors like distance, time, and obstacles.
Related terms
Dijkstra's Algorithm: Dijkstra's Algorithm is one type of route-finding algorithm that finds the shortest path between two nodes in a graph.
A* Algorithm: The A* (A-star) Algorithm is another popular route-finding algorithm that combines both uniform cost search and heuristic functions for more efficient pathfinding.
Breadth-first Search (BFS): BFS is an algorithm commonly used in route finding where it explores all neighboring vertices before moving deeper into the graph.