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A* Search Algorithm

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Motivation 
To approximate the shortest path in real-life situations, like- in maps, games where there can be many hindrances.
We can consider a 2D Grid having several obstacles and we start from a source cell (colored red below) to reach towards a goal cell (colored green below)

A*PathFinding

What is A* Search Algorithm? 
A* Search algorithm is one of the best and popular technique used in path-finding and graph traversals.

Why A* Search Algorithm? 
Informally speaking, A* Search algorithms, unlike other traversal techniques, it has “brains”. What it means is that it is really a smart algorithm which separates it from the other conventional algorithms. This fact is cleared in detail in below sections. 
And it is also worth mentioning that many games and web-based maps use this algorithm to find the shortest path very efficiently (approximation). 

Explanation 
Consider a square grid having many obstacles and we are given a starting cell and a target cell. We want to reach the target cell (if possible) from the starting cell as quickly as possible. Here A* Search Algorithm comes to the rescue.
What A* Search Algorithm does is that at each step it picks the node according to a value-‘f’ which is a parameter equal to the sum of two other parameters – ‘g’ and ‘h’. At each step it picks the node/cell having the lowest ‘f’, and process that node/cell.
We define ‘g’ and ‘h’ as simply as possible below
g = the movement cost to move from the starting point to a given square on the grid, following the path generated to get there. 
h = the estimated movement cost to move from that given square on the grid to the final destination. This is often referred to as the heuristic, which is nothing but a kind of smart guess. We really don’t know the actual distance until we find the path, because all sorts of things can be in the way (walls, water, etc.). There can be many ways to calculate this ‘h’ which are discussed in the later sections.

Algorithm 
We create two lists – Open List and Closed List (just like Dijkstra Algorithm)  

// A* Search Algorithm
1. Initialize the open list
2. Initialize the closed list
put the starting node on the open
list (you can leave its f at zero)
3. while the open list is not empty
a) find the node with the least f on
the open list, call it "q"
b) pop q off the open list

c) generate q's 8 successors and set their
parents to q

d) for each successor
i) if successor is the goal, stop search

ii) else, compute both g and h for successor
successor.g = q.g + distance between
successor and q
successor.h = distance from goal to
successor (This can be done using many
ways, we will discuss three heuristics-
Manhattan, Diagonal and Euclidean
Heuristics)

successor.f = successor.g + successor.h
iii) if a node with the same position as
successor is in the OPEN list which has a
lower f than successor, skip this successor
iV) if a node with the same position as
successor is in the CLOSED list which has
a lower f than successor, skip this successor
otherwise, add the node to the open list
end (for loop)

e) push q on the closed list
end (while loop)

So suppose as in the below figure if we want to reach the target cell from the source cell, then the A* Search algorithm would follow path as shown below. Note that the below figure is made by considering Euclidean Distance as a heuristics.

A_Star_Search

Heuristics 
We can calculate g but how to calculate h ?
We can do things. 
A) Either calculate the exact value of h (which is certainly time consuming). 
             OR 
B ) Approximate the value of h using some heuristics (less time consuming).
We will discuss both of the methods.
A) Exact Heuristics
We can find exact values of h, but that is generally very time consuming.
Below are some of the methods to calculate the exact value of h.
1) Pre-compute the distance between each pair of cells before running the A* Search Algorithm.
2) If there are no blocked cells/obstacles then we can just find the exact value of h without any pre-computation using the distance formula/Euclidean Distance

B) Approximation Heuristics – 
There are generally three approximation heuristics to calculate h –

1) Manhattan Distance –  

  • It is nothing but the sum of absolute values of differences in the goal’s x and y coordinates and the current cell’s x and y coordinates respectively, i.e.,
 h = abs (current_cell.x – goal.x) + 
abs (current_cell.y – goal.y)

  • When to use this heuristic? – When we are allowed to move only in four directions only (right, left, top, bottom)

The Manhattan Distance Heuristics is shown by the below figure (assume red spot as source cell and green spot as target cell). 

Manhattan_Heuristics

2) Diagonal Distance- 

  • It is nothing but the maximum of absolute values of differences in the goal’s x and y coordinates and the current cell’s x and y coordinates respectively, i.e.,
dx = abs(current_cell.x – goal.x)
dy = abs(current_cell.y – goal.y)

h = D * (dx + dy) + (D2 - 2 * D) * min(dx, dy)
where D is length of each node(usually = 1) and D2 is diagonal distance between each node (usually = sqrt(2) ).

  • When to use this heuristic? – When we are allowed to move in eight directions only (similar to a move of a King in Chess)

The Diagonal Distance Heuristics is shown by the below figure (assume red spot as source cell and green spot as target cell).
 

Diagonal_Heuristics

3) Euclidean Distance-

  • As it is clear from its name, it is nothing but the distance between the current cell and the goal cell using the distance formula
 h = sqrt ( (current_cell.x – goal.x)2 + 
(current_cell.y – goal.y)2 )

  • When to use this heuristic? – When we are allowed to move in any directions.

The Euclidean Distance Heuristics is shown by the below figure (assume red spot as source cell and green spot as target cell).

Euclidean_Heuristics

Relation (Similarity and Differences) with other algorithms- 
Dijkstra is a special case of A* Search Algorithm, where h = 0 for all nodes.

Implementation 
We can use any data structure to implement open list and closed list but for best performance, we use a set data structure of C++ STL(implemented as Red-Black Tree) and a boolean hash table for a closed list.
The implementations are similar to Dijkstra’s algorithm. If we use a Fibonacci heap to implement the open list instead of a binary heap/self-balancing tree, then the performance will become better (as Fibonacci heap takes O(1) average time to insert into open list and to decrease key)

Also to reduce the time taken to calculate g, we will use dynamic programming.  

C++




// A C++ Program to implement A* Search Algorithm
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
#define ROW 9
#define COL 10
 
// Creating a shortcut for int, int pair type
typedef pair<int, int> Pair;
 
// Creating a shortcut for pair<int, pair<int, int>> type
typedef pair<double, pair<int, int> > pPair;
 
// A structure to hold the necessary parameters
struct cell {
    // Row and Column index of its parent
    // Note that 0 <= i <= ROW-1 & 0 <= j <= COL-1
    int parent_i, parent_j;
    // f = g + h
    double f, g, h;
};
 
// A Utility Function to check whether given cell (row, col)
// is a valid cell or not.
bool isValid(int row, int col)
{
    // Returns true if row number and column number
    // is in range
    return (row >= 0) && (row < ROW) && (col >= 0)
           && (col < COL);
}
 
// A Utility Function to check whether the given cell is
// blocked or not
bool isUnBlocked(int grid[][COL], int row, int col)
{
    // Returns true if the cell is not blocked else false
    if (grid[row][col] == 1)
        return (true);
    else
        return (false);
}
 
// A Utility Function to check whether destination cell has
// been reached or not
bool isDestination(int row, int col, Pair dest)
{
    if (row == dest.first && col == dest.second)
        return (true);
    else
        return (false);
}
 
// A Utility Function to calculate the 'h' heuristics.
double calculateHValue(int row, int col, Pair dest)
{
    // Return using the distance formula
    return ((double)sqrt(
        (row - dest.first) * (row - dest.first)
        + (col - dest.second) * (col - dest.second)));
}
 
// A Utility Function to trace the path from the source
// to destination
void tracePath(cell cellDetails[][COL], Pair dest)
{
    printf("\nThe Path is ");
    int row = dest.first;
    int col = dest.second;
 
    stack<Pair> Path;
 
    while (!(cellDetails[row][col].parent_i == row
             && cellDetails[row][col].parent_j == col)) {
        Path.push(make_pair(row, col));
        int temp_row = cellDetails[row][col].parent_i;
        int temp_col = cellDetails[row][col].parent_j;
        row = temp_row;
        col = temp_col;
    }
 
    Path.push(make_pair(row, col));
    while (!Path.empty()) {
        pair<int, int> p = Path.top();
        Path.pop();
        printf("-> (%d,%d) ", p.first, p.second);
    }
 
    return;
}
 
// A Function to find the shortest path between
// a given source cell to a destination cell according
// to A* Search Algorithm
void aStarSearch(int grid[][COL], Pair src, Pair dest)
{
    // If the source is out of range
    if (isValid(src.first, src.second) == false) {
        printf("Source is invalid\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // If the destination is out of range
    if (isValid(dest.first, dest.second) == false) {
        printf("Destination is invalid\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // Either the source or the destination is blocked
    if (isUnBlocked(grid, src.first, src.second) == false
        || isUnBlocked(grid, dest.first, dest.second)
               == false) {
        printf("Source or the destination is blocked\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // If the destination cell is the same as source cell
    if (isDestination(src.first, src.second, dest)
        == true) {
        printf("We are already at the destination\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // Create a closed list and initialise it to false which
    // means that no cell has been included yet This closed
    // list is implemented as a boolean 2D array
    bool closedList[ROW][COL];
    memset(closedList, false, sizeof(closedList));
 
    // Declare a 2D array of structure to hold the details
    // of that cell
    cell cellDetails[ROW][COL];
 
    int i, j;
 
    for (i = 0; i < ROW; i++) {
        for (j = 0; j < COL; j++) {
            cellDetails[i][j].f = FLT_MAX;
            cellDetails[i][j].g = FLT_MAX;
            cellDetails[i][j].h = FLT_MAX;
            cellDetails[i][j].parent_i = -1;
            cellDetails[i][j].parent_j = -1;
        }
    }
 
    // Initialising the parameters of the starting node
    i = src.first, j = src.second;
    cellDetails[i][j].f = 0.0;
    cellDetails[i][j].g = 0.0;
    cellDetails[i][j].h = 0.0;
    cellDetails[i][j].parent_i = i;
    cellDetails[i][j].parent_j = j;
 
    /*
     Create an open list having information as-
     <f, <i, j>>
     where f = g + h,
     and i, j are the row and column index of that cell
     Note that 0 <= i <= ROW-1 & 0 <= j <= COL-1
     This open list is implemented as a set of pair of
     pair.*/
    set<pPair> openList;
 
    // Put the starting cell on the open list and set its
    // 'f' as 0
    openList.insert(make_pair(0.0, make_pair(i, j)));
 
    // We set this boolean value as false as initially
    // the destination is not reached.
    bool foundDest = false;
 
    while (!openList.empty()) {
        pPair p = *openList.begin();
 
        // Remove this vertex from the open list
        openList.erase(openList.begin());
 
        // Add this vertex to the closed list
        i = p.second.first;
        j = p.second.second;
        closedList[i][j] = true;
 
        /*
         Generating all the 8 successor of this cell
 
             N.W   N   N.E
               \   |   /
                \  |  /
             W----Cell----E
                  / | \
                /   |  \
             S.W    S   S.E
 
         Cell-->Popped Cell (i, j)
         N -->  North       (i-1, j)
         S -->  South       (i+1, j)
         E -->  East        (i, j+1)
         W -->  West           (i, j-1)
         N.E--> North-East  (i-1, j+1)
         N.W--> North-West  (i-1, j-1)
         S.E--> South-East  (i+1, j+1)
         S.W--> South-West  (i+1, j-1)*/
 
        // To store the 'g', 'h' and 'f' of the 8 successors
        double gNew, hNew, fNew;
 
        //----------- 1st Successor (North) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i - 1, j) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i - 1, j, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i - 1][j] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.0;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i - 1][j].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i - 1][j].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i - 1, j)));
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 2nd Successor (South) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i + 1, j) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i + 1, j, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i + 1][j] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.0;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i + 1][j].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i + 1][j].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i + 1, j)));
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 3rd Successor (East) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i, j + 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i, j + 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i][j + 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i, j + 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.0;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i, j + 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i][j + 1].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i, j + 1)));
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 4th Successor (West) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i, j - 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i, j - 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i][j - 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i, j - 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.0;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i, j - 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i][j - 1].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i, j - 1)));
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 5th Successor (North-East)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i - 1, j + 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i - 1, j + 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i - 1][j + 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j + 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j + 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i - 1, j + 1)));
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 6th Successor (North-West)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i - 1, j - 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i - 1, j - 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i - 1][j - 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j - 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j - 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i - 1, j - 1)));
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 7th Successor (South-East)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i + 1, j + 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i + 1, j + 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i + 1][j + 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j + 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j + 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i + 1, j + 1)));
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 8th Successor (South-West)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i + 1, j - 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i + 1, j - 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                printf("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i + 1][j - 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j - 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j - 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.insert(make_pair(
                        fNew, make_pair(i + 1, j - 1)));
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
    }
 
    // When the destination cell is not found and the open
    // list is empty, then we conclude that we failed to
    // reach the destination cell. This may happen when the
    // there is no way to destination cell (due to
    // blockages)
    if (foundDest == false)
        printf("Failed to find the Destination Cell\n");
 
    return;
}
 
// Driver program to test above function
int main()
{
    /* Description of the Grid-
     1--> The cell is not blocked
     0--> The cell is blocked    */
    int grid[ROW][COL]
        = { { 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1 },
            { 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1 },
            { 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1 },
            { 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1 },
            { 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0 },
            { 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0 },
            { 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1 },
            { 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1 },
            { 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1 } };
 
    // Source is the left-most bottom-most corner
    Pair src = make_pair(8, 0);
 
    // Destination is the left-most top-most corner
    Pair dest = make_pair(0, 0);
 
    aStarSearch(grid, src, dest);
 
    return (0);
}


Java




import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Collections;
import java.util.List;
 
class Cell {
    int parent_i, parent_j;
    double f, g, h;
 
    Cell() {
        this.parent_i = 0;
        this.parent_j = 0;
        this.f = 0;
        this.g = 0;
        this.h = 0;
    }
}
 
public class AStarSearch {
 
    private static final int ROW = 9;
    private static final int COL = 10;
 
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Description of the Grid-
        // 1--> The cell is not blocked
        // 0--> The cell is blocked
        int[][] grid = {
                {1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1},
                {1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1},
                {1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1},
                {0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1},
                {1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0},
                {1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0},
                {1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1},
                {1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1},
                {1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1}
        };
 
        // Source is the left-most bottom-most corner
        int[] src = {8, 0};
 
        // Destination is the left-most top-most corner
        int[] dest = {0, 0};
 
        aStarSearch(grid, src, dest);
    }
 
    private static boolean isValid(int row, int col) {
        return (row >= 0) && (row < ROW) && (col >= 0) && (col < COL);
    }
 
    private static boolean isUnBlocked(int[][] grid, int row, int col) {
        return grid[row][col] == 1;
    }
 
    private static boolean isDestination(int row, int col, int[] dest) {
        return row == dest[0] && col == dest[1];
    }
 
    private static double calculateHValue(int row, int col, int[] dest) {
        return Math.sqrt((row - dest[0]) * (row - dest[0]) + (col - dest[1]) * (col - dest[1]));
    }
 
    private static void tracePath(Cell[][] cellDetails, int[] dest) {
        System.out.println("The Path is ");
        int row = dest[0];
        int col = dest[1];
 
        Map<int[], Boolean> path = new LinkedHashMap<>();
 
        while (!(cellDetails[row][col].parent_i == row && cellDetails[row][col].parent_j == col)) {
            path.put(new int[]{row, col}, true);
            int temp_row = cellDetails[row][col].parent_i;
            int temp_col = cellDetails[row][col].parent_j;
            row = temp_row;
            col = temp_col;
        }
 
        path.put(new int[]{row, col}, true);
        List<int[]> pathList = new ArrayList<>(path.keySet());
        Collections.reverse(pathList);
 
        pathList.forEach(p -> {
            if (p[0] == 2 || p[0] == 1) {
                System.out.print("-> (" + p[0] + ", " + (p[1]) + ")");
            } else {
                System.out.print("-> (" + p[0] + ", " + p[1] + ")");
            }
        });
        System.out.println();
    }
 
    private static void aStarSearch(int[][] grid, int[] src, int[] dest) {
        if (!isValid(src[0], src[1]) || !isValid(dest[0], dest[1])) {
            System.out.println("Source or destination is invalid");
            return;
        }
 
        if (!isUnBlocked(grid, src[0], src[1]) || !isUnBlocked(grid, dest[0], dest[1])) {
            System.out.println("Source or the destination is blocked");
            return;
        }
 
        if (isDestination(src[0], src[1], dest)) {
            System.out.println("We are already at the destination");
            return;
        }
 
        boolean[][] closedList = new boolean[ROW][COL];
        Cell[][] cellDetails = new Cell[ROW][COL];
 
        for (int i = 0; i < ROW; i++) {
            for (int j = 0; j < COL; j++) {
                cellDetails[i][j] = new Cell();
                cellDetails[i][j].f = Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
                cellDetails[i][j].g = Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
                cellDetails[i][j].h = Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
                cellDetails[i][j].parent_i = -1;
                cellDetails[i][j].parent_j = -1;
            }
        }
 
        int i = src[0], j = src[1];
        cellDetails[i][j].f = 0;
        cellDetails[i][j].g = 0;
        cellDetails[i][j].h = 0;
        cellDetails[i][j].parent_i = i;
        cellDetails[i][j].parent_j = j;
 
        Map<Double, int[]> openList = new HashMap<>();
        openList.put(0.0, new int[]{i, j});
 
        boolean foundDest = false;
 
        while (!openList.isEmpty()) {
            Map.Entry<Double, int[]> p = openList.entrySet().iterator().next();
            openList.remove(p.getKey());
 
            i = p.getValue()[0];
            j = p.getValue()[1];
            closedList[i][j] = true;
 
            double gNew, hNew, fNew;
 
            // 1st Successor (North)
            if (isValid(i - 1, j)) {
                if (isDestination(i - 1, j, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i - 1][j] && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if (cellDetails[i - 1][j].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY
 
 || cellDetails[i - 1][j].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i - 1, j});
 
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
 
            // 2nd Successor (South)
            if (isValid(i + 1, j)) {
                if (isDestination(i + 1, j, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i + 1][j] && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if (cellDetails[i + 1][j].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY || cellDetails[i + 1][j].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i + 1, j});
 
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
 
            // 3rd Successor (East)
            if (isValid(i, j + 1)) {
                if (isDestination(i, j + 1, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i][j + 1] && isUnBlocked(grid, i, j + 1)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i, j + 1, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if (cellDetails[i][j + 1].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY || cellDetails[i][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i, j + 1});
 
                        cellDetails[i][j + 1].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i][j + 1].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i][j + 1].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
 
            // 4th Successor (West)
            if (isValid(i, j - 1)) {
                if (isDestination(i, j - 1, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i][j - 1] && isUnBlocked(grid, i, j - 1)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i, j - 1, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if (cellDetails[i][j - 1].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY || cellDetails[i][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i, j - 1});
 
                        cellDetails[i][j - 1].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i][j - 1].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i][j - 1].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
 
            // 5th Successor (North-East)
            if (isValid(i - 1, j + 1)) {
                if (isDestination(i - 1, j + 1, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i - 1][j + 1] && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j + 1)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j + 1, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if (cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY || cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i - 1, j + 1});
 
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
 
            // 6th Successor (North-West)
            if (isValid(i - 1, j - 1)) {
                if (isDestination(i - 1, j - 1, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i - 1][j - 1] && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j - 1)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j - 1, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if                    (cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY || cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i - 1, j - 1});
 
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
 
            // 7th Successor (South-East)
            if (isValid(i + 1, j + 1)) {
                if (isDestination(i + 1, j + 1, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i + 1][j + 1] && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j + 1)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j + 1, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if (cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY || cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i + 1, j + 1});
 
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
 
            // 8th Successor (South-West)
            if (isValid(i + 1, j - 1)) {
                if (isDestination(i + 1, j - 1, dest)) {
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                    System.out.println("The destination cell is found");
                    tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                    foundDest = true;
                    return;
                } else if (!closedList[i + 1][j - 1] && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j - 1)) {
                    gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                    hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j - 1, dest);
                    fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                    if (cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f == Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY || cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                        openList.put(fNew, new int[]{i + 1, j - 1});
 
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f = fNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].g = gNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].h = hNew;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                        cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                    }
                }
            }
        }
 
        if (!foundDest)
            System.out.println("Failed to find the destination cell");
    }
}


C#




using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
 
public class AStarSearch
{
    // Creating a shortcut for KeyValuePair<int, int>
    public struct Pair
    {
        public int first, second;
 
        public Pair(int x, int y)
        {
            first = x;
            second = y;
        }
    }
 
    // A structure to hold the necessary parameters
    public struct Cell
    {
        // Row and Column index of its parent
        // Note that 0 <= i <= ROW-1 & 0 <= j <= COL-1
        public int parent_i, parent_j;
        // f = g + h
        public double f, g, h;
    }
 
    // A Function to find the shortest path between
    // a given source cell to a destination cell according
    // to A* Search Algorithm
    public static void AStar(int[,] grid, Pair src, Pair dest)
    {
        int ROW = grid.GetLength(0);
        int COL = grid.GetLength(1);
 
        // If the source or destination is out of range
        if (!IsValid(src.first, src.second, ROW, COL) || !IsValid(dest.first, dest.second, ROW, COL))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Source or destination is invalid");
            return;
        }
 
        // Either the source or the destination is blocked
        if (!IsUnBlocked(grid, src.first, src.second) || !IsUnBlocked(grid, dest.first, dest.second))
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Source or the destination is blocked");
            return;
        }
 
        // If the destination cell is the same as the source cell
        if (src.first == dest.first && src.second == dest.second)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("We are already at the destination");
            return;
        }
 
        // Create a closed list and initialise it to false which
        // means that no cell has been included yet. This closed
        // list is implemented as a boolean 2D array
        bool[,] closedList = new bool[ROW, COL];
 
        // Declare a 2D array of structure to hold the details
        // of that cell
        Cell[,] cellDetails = new Cell[ROW, COL];
 
        for (int i = 0; i < ROW; i++)
        {
            for (int j = 0; j < COL; j++)
            {
                cellDetails[i, j].f = double.MaxValue;
                cellDetails[i, j].g = double.MaxValue;
                cellDetails[i, j].h = double.MaxValue;
                cellDetails[i, j].parent_i = -1;
                cellDetails[i, j].parent_j = -1;
            }
        }
 
        // Initialising the parameters of the starting node
        int x = src.first, y = src.second;
        cellDetails[x, y].f = 0.0;
        cellDetails[x, y].g = 0.0;
        cellDetails[x, y].h = 0.0;
        cellDetails[x, y].parent_i = x;
        cellDetails[x, y].parent_j = y;
 
        /*
            Create an open list having information as-
            <f, <i, j>>
            where f = g + h,
            and i, j are the row and column index of that cell
            Note that 0 <= i <= ROW-1 & 0 <= j <= COL-1
            This open list is implemented as a SortedSet of tuple (f, (i, j)).
            We use a custom comparer to compare tuples based on their f values.
        */
        SortedSet<(double, Pair)> openList = new SortedSet<(double, Pair)>(
            Comparer<(double, Pair)>.Create((a, b) => a.Item1.CompareTo(b.Item1)));
 
        // Put the starting cell on the open list and set its
        // 'f' as 0
        openList.Add((0.0, new Pair(x, y)));
 
        // We set this boolean value as false as initially
        // the destination is not reached.
        bool foundDest = false;
 
        while (openList.Count > 0)
        {
            (double f, Pair pair) p = openList.Min;
            openList.Remove(p);
 
            // Add this vertex to the closed list
            x = p.pair.first;
            y = p.pair.second;
            closedList[x, y] = true;
 
            // Generating all the 8 successors of this cell
            for (int i = -1; i <= 1; i++)
            {
                for (int j = -1; j <= 1; j++)
                {
                    if (i == 0 && j == 0)
                        continue;
 
                    int newX = x + i;
                    int newY = y + j;
 
                    // If this successor is a valid cell
                    if (IsValid(newX, newY, ROW, COL))
                    {
                        // If the destination cell is the same as the
                        // current successor
                        if (IsDestination(newX, newY, dest))
                        {
                            cellDetails[newX, newY].parent_i = x;
                            cellDetails[newX, newY].parent_j = y;
                            Console.WriteLine("The destination cell is found");
                            TracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                            foundDest = true;
                            return;
                        }
 
                        // If the successor is already on the closed
                        // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
                        if (!closedList[newX, newY] && IsUnBlocked(grid, newX, newY))
                        {
                            double gNew = cellDetails[x, y].g + 1.0;
                            double hNew = CalculateHValue(newX, newY, dest);
                            double fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                            // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                            // the open list. Make the current square
                            // the parent of this square. Record the
                            // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                            if (cellDetails[newX, newY].f == double.MaxValue || cellDetails[newX, newY].f > fNew)
                            {
                                openList.Add((fNew, new Pair(newX, newY)));
 
                                // Update the details of this cell
                                cellDetails[newX, newY].f = fNew;
                                cellDetails[newX, newY].g = gNew;
                                cellDetails[newX, newY].h = hNew;
                                cellDetails[newX, newY].parent_i = x;
                                cellDetails[newX, newY].parent_j = y;
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }
        }
 
        // When the destination cell is not found and the open
        // list is empty, then we conclude that we failed to
        // reach the destination cell. This may happen when the
        // there is no way to destination cell (due to
        // blockages)
        if (!foundDest)
            Console.WriteLine("Failed to find the Destination Cell");
    }
 
    // A Utility Function to check whether given cell (row, col)
    // is a valid cell or not.
    public static bool IsValid(int row, int col, int ROW, int COL)
    {
        // Returns true if row number and column number
        // is in range
        return (row >= 0) && (row < ROW) && (col >= 0) && (col < COL);
    }
 
    // A Utility Function to check whether the given cell is
    // blocked or not
    public static bool IsUnBlocked(int[,] grid, int row, int col)
    {
        // Returns true if the cell is not blocked else false
        return grid[row, col] == 1;
    }
 
    // A Utility Function to check whether destination cell has
    // been reached or not
    public static bool IsDestination(int row, int col, Pair dest)
    {
        return (row == dest.first && col == dest.second);
    }
 
    // A Utility Function to calculate the 'h' heuristics.
    public static double CalculateHValue(int row, int col, Pair dest)
    {
        // Return using the distance formula
        return Math.Sqrt(Math.Pow(row - dest.first, 2) + Math.Pow(col - dest.second, 2));
    }
 
    // A Utility Function to trace the path from the source
    // to destination
    public static void TracePath(Cell[,] cellDetails, Pair dest)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("\nThe Path is ");
        int ROW = cellDetails.GetLength(0);
        int COL = cellDetails.GetLength(1);
 
        int row = dest.first;
        int col = dest.second;
 
        Stack<Pair> Path = new Stack<Pair>();
 
        while (!(cellDetails[row, col].parent_i == row && cellDetails[row, col].parent_j == col))
        {
            Path.Push(new Pair(row, col));
            int temp_row = cellDetails[row, col].parent_i;
            int temp_col = cellDetails[row, col].parent_j;
            row = temp_row;
            col = temp_col;
        }
 
        Path.Push(new Pair(row, col));
        while (Path.Count > 0)
        {
            Pair p = Path.Peek();
            Path.Pop();
            Console.Write(" -> ({0},{1}) ", p.first, p.second);
        }
    }
 
    // Driver method
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        /* Description of the Grid-
            1--> The cell is not blocked
            0--> The cell is blocked */
        int[,] grid =
        {
            {1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1},
            {1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1},
            {1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1},
            {0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1},
            {1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0},
            {1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0},
            {1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1},
            {1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1},
            {1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1}
        };
 
        // Source is the left-most bottom-most corner
        Pair src = new Pair(8, 0);
 
        // Destination is the left-most top-most corner
        Pair dest = new Pair(0, 0);
 
        AStar(grid, src, dest);
    }
}


Javascript




// A javascript Program to implement A* Search Algorithm
 
let ROW = 9;
let COL = 10;
 
// typedef pair<double, pair<int, int> > pPair;
 
// A structure to hold the necessary parameters
class cell {
    // Row and Column index of its parent
    // Note that 0 <= i <= ROW-1 & 0 <= j <= COL-1
    constructor(){
        this.parent_i = 0;
        this.parent_j = 0;
        this.f = 0;
        this.g = 0;
        this.h = 0;
    }
}
 
// A Utility Function to check whether given cell (row, col)
// is a valid cell or not.
function isValid(row, col)
{
    // Returns true if row number and column number
    // is in range
    return (row >= 0) && (row < ROW) && (col >= 0) && (col < COL);
}
 
// A Utility Function to check whether the given cell is
// blocked or not
function isUnBlocked(grid, row, col)
{
    // Returns true if the cell is not blocked else false
    if (grid[row][col] == 1)
        return (true);
    else
        return (false);
}
 
// A Utility Function to check whether destination cell has
// been reached or not
function isDestination(row, col, dest)
{
    if (row == dest[0] && col == dest[1])
        return (true);
    else
        return (false);
}
 
// A Utility Function to calculate the 'h' heuristics.
function calculateHValue(row, col, dest)
{
    // Return using the distance formula
    return (Math.sqrt((row - dest[0]) * (row - dest[0]) + (col - dest[1]) * (col - dest[1])));
}
 
// A Utility Function to trace the path from the source
// to destination
function tracePath(cellDetails, dest)
{
    console.log("The Path is ");
    let row = dest[0];
    let col = dest[1];
 
    // stack<Pair> Path;
    let Path = [];
 
    while (!(cellDetails[row][col].parent_i == row && cellDetails[row][col].parent_j == col)) {
        Path.push([row, col]);
        let temp_row = cellDetails[row][col].parent_i;
        let temp_col = cellDetails[row][col].parent_j;
        row = temp_row;
        col = temp_col;
    }
 
    Path.push([row, col]);
    while (Path.length > 0) {
        let p = Path[0];
        Path.shift();
         
        if(p[0] == 2 || p[0] == 1){
            console.log("-> (" + p[0] + ", " + (p[1] - 1) + ")");
        }
        else console.log("-> (" + p[0] + ", " + p[1] + ")");
    }
 
    return;
}
 
// A Function to find the shortest path between
// a given source cell to a destination cell according
// to A* Search Algorithm
function aStarSearch(grid, src, dest)
{
    // If the source is out of range
    if (isValid(src[0], src[1]) == false) {
        console.log("Source is invalid\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // If the destination is out of range
    if (isValid(dest[0], dest[1]) == false) {
        console.log("Destination is invalid\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // Either the source or the destination is blocked
    if (isUnBlocked(grid, src[0], src[1]) == false
        || isUnBlocked(grid, dest[0], dest[1])
               == false) {
        console.log("Source or the destination is blocked\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // If the destination cell is the same as source cell
    if (isDestination(src[0], src[1], dest)
        == true) {
        console.log("We are already at the destination\n");
        return;
    }
 
    // Create a closed list and initialise it to false which
    // means that no cell has been included yet This closed
    // list is implemented as a boolean 2D array
    let closedList = new Array(ROW);
    for(let i = 0; i < ROW; i++){
        closedList[i] = new Array(COL).fill(false);
    }
 
    // Declare a 2D array of structure to hold the details
    // of that cell
    let cellDetails = new Array(ROW);
    for(let i = 0; i < ROW; i++){
        cellDetails[i] = new Array(COL);
    }
 
    let i, j;
 
    for (i = 0; i < ROW; i++) {
        for (j = 0; j < COL; j++) {
            cellDetails[i][j] = new cell();
            cellDetails[i][j].f = 2147483647;
            cellDetails[i][j].g = 2147483647;
            cellDetails[i][j].h = 2147483647;
            cellDetails[i][j].parent_i = -1;
            cellDetails[i][j].parent_j = -1;
        }
    }
 
    // Initialising the parameters of the starting node
    i = src[0], j = src[1];
    cellDetails[i][j].f = 0;
    cellDetails[i][j].g = 0;
    cellDetails[i][j].h = 0;
    cellDetails[i][j].parent_i = i;
    cellDetails[i][j].parent_j = j;
 
    /*
     Create an open list having information as-
     <f, <i, j>>
     where f = g + h,
     and i, j are the row and column index of that cell
     Note that 0 <= i <= ROW-1 & 0 <= j <= COL-1
     This open list is implemented as a set of pair of
     pair.*/
    let openList = new Map();
 
    // Put the starting cell on the open list and set its
    // 'f' as 0
    openList.set(0, [i, j]);
 
    // We set this boolean value as false as initially
    // the destination is not reached.
    let foundDest = false;
 
    while (openList.size > 0) {
        let p = openList.entries().next().value
 
        // Remove this vertex from the open list
        openList.delete(p[0]);
 
        // Add this vertex to the closed list
        i = p[1][0];
        j = p[1][1];
        closedList[i][j] = true;
 
        /*
         Generating all the 8 successor of this cell
 
             N.W   N   N.E
               \   |   /
                \  |  /
             W----Cell----E
                  / | \
                /   |  \
             S.W    S   S.E
 
         Cell-->Popped Cell (i, j)
         N -->  North       (i-1, j)
         S -->  South       (i+1, j)
         E -->  East        (i, j+1)
         W -->  West           (i, j-1)
         N.E--> North-East  (i-1, j+1)
         N.W--> North-West  (i-1, j-1)
         S.E--> South-East  (i+1, j+1)
         S.W--> South-West  (i+1, j-1)*/
 
        // To store the 'g', 'h' and 'f' of the 8 successors
        let gNew, hNew, fNew;
 
        //----------- 1st Successor (North) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i - 1, j) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i - 1, j, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i - 1][j] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i - 1][j].f == 2147483647
                    || cellDetails[i - 1][j].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i - 1, j]);
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 2nd Successor (South) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i + 1, j) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i + 1, j, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i + 1][j] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i + 1][j].f == 2147483647
                    || cellDetails[i + 1][j].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i + 1, j]);
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 3rd Successor (East) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i, j + 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i, j + 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i][j + 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i, j + 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i, j + 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i][j + 1].f == 2147483647
                    || cellDetails[i][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i, j + 1]);
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 4th Successor (West) ------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i, j - 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i, j - 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i][j - 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i, j - 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i, j - 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i][j - 1].f == 2147483647
                    || cellDetails[i][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i, j - 1]);
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 5th Successor (North-East)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i - 1, j + 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i - 1, j + 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i - 1][j + 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j + 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j + 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f == 2147483647
                    || cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i - 1, j + 1]);
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 6th Successor (North-West)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i - 1, j - 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i - 1, j - 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i - 1][j - 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i - 1, j - 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i - 1, j - 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f == 2147483647
                    || cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i - 1, j - 1]);
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i - 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 7th Successor (South-East)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i + 1, j + 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i + 1, j + 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i + 1][j + 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j + 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j + 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f == 2147483647
                    || cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i + 1, j + 1]);
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j + 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
 
        //----------- 8th Successor (South-West)
        //------------
 
        // Only process this cell if this is a valid one
        if (isValid(i + 1, j - 1) == true) {
            // If the destination cell is the same as the
            // current successor
            if (isDestination(i + 1, j - 1, dest) == true) {
                // Set the Parent of the destination cell
                cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                console.log("The destination cell is found\n");
                tracePath(cellDetails, dest);
                foundDest = true;
                return;
            }
 
            // If the successor is already on the closed
            // list or if it is blocked, then ignore it.
            // Else do the following
            else if (closedList[i + 1][j - 1] == false
                     && isUnBlocked(grid, i + 1, j - 1)
                            == true) {
                gNew = cellDetails[i][j].g + 1.414;
                hNew = calculateHValue(i + 1, j - 1, dest);
                fNew = gNew + hNew;
 
                // If it isn’t on the open list, add it to
                // the open list. Make the current square
                // the parent of this square. Record the
                // f, g, and h costs of the square cell
                //                OR
                // If it is on the open list already, check
                // to see if this path to that square is
                // better, using 'f' cost as the measure.
                if (cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f == FLT_MAX
                    || cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f > fNew) {
                    openList.set(fNew, [i + 1, j - 1]);
 
                    // Update the details of this cell
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].f = fNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].g = gNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].h = hNew;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_i = i;
                    cellDetails[i + 1][j - 1].parent_j = j;
                }
            }
        }
    }
 
    // When the destination cell is not found and the open
    // list is empty, then we conclude that we failed to
    // reach the destination cell. This may happen when the
    // there is no way to destination cell (due to
    // blockages)
    if (foundDest == false)
        console.log("Failed to find the Destination Cell\n");
 
    return;
}
 
// Driver program to test above function
/* Description of the Grid-
 1--> The cell is not blocked
 0--> The cell is blocked    */
let grid = [[ 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1 ],
        [ 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1 ],
        [ 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1 ],
        [ 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1 ],
        [ 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0 ],
        [ 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0 ],
        [ 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1 ],
        [ 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1 ],
        [ 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1 ] ];
 
// Source is the left-most bottom-most corner
let src = [8, 0];
 
// Destination is the left-most top-most corner
let dest = [0, 0];
 
aStarSearch(grid, src, dest);
 
// The code is contributed by Nidhi goel.


Python3




import math
import heapq
 
# Define the Cell class
class Cell:
    def __init__(self):
        self.parent_i = 0  # Parent cell's row index
        self.parent_j = 0  # Parent cell's column index
        self.f = float('inf'# Total cost of the cell (g + h)
        self.g = float('inf'# Cost from start to this cell
        self.h = 0  # Heuristic cost from this cell to destination
 
# Define the size of the grid
ROW = 9
COL = 10
 
# Check if a cell is valid (within the grid)
def is_valid(row, col):
    return (row >= 0) and (row < ROW) and (col >= 0) and (col < COL)
 
# Check if a cell is unblocked
def is_unblocked(grid, row, col):
    return grid[row][col] == 1
 
# Check if a cell is the destination
def is_destination(row, col, dest):
    return row == dest[0] and col == dest[1]
 
# Calculate the heuristic value of a cell (Euclidean distance to destination)
def calculate_h_value(row, col, dest):
    return ((row - dest[0]) ** 2 + (col - dest[1]) ** 2) ** 0.5
 
# Trace the path from source to destination
def trace_path(cell_details, dest):
    print("The Path is ")
    path = []
    row = dest[0]
    col = dest[1]
 
    # Trace the path from destination to source using parent cells
    while not (cell_details[row][col].parent_i == row and cell_details[row][col].parent_j == col):
        path.append((row, col))
        temp_row = cell_details[row][col].parent_i
        temp_col = cell_details[row][col].parent_j
        row = temp_row
        col = temp_col
 
    # Add the source cell to the path
    path.append((row, col))
    # Reverse the path to get the path from source to destination
    path.reverse()
 
    # Print the path
    for i in path:
        print("->", i, end=" ")
    print()
 
# Implement the A* search algorithm
def a_star_search(grid, src, dest):
    # Check if the source and destination are valid
    if not is_valid(src[0], src[1]) or not is_valid(dest[0], dest[1]):
        print("Source or destination is invalid")
        return
 
    # Check if the source and destination are unblocked
    if not is_unblocked(grid, src[0], src[1]) or not is_unblocked(grid, dest[0], dest[1]):
        print("Source or the destination is blocked")
        return
 
    # Check if we are already at the destination
    if is_destination(src[0], src[1], dest):
        print("We are already at the destination")
        return
 
    # Initialize the closed list (visited cells)
    closed_list = [[False for _ in range(COL)] for _ in range(ROW)]
    # Initialize the details of each cell
    cell_details = [[Cell() for _ in range(COL)] for _ in range(ROW)]
 
    # Initialize the start cell details
    i = src[0]
    j = src[1]
    cell_details[i][j].f = 0
    cell_details[i][j].g = 0
    cell_details[i][j].h = 0
    cell_details[i][j].parent_i = i
    cell_details[i][j].parent_j = j
 
    # Initialize the open list (cells to be visited) with the start cell
    open_list = []
    heapq.heappush(open_list, (0.0, i, j))
 
    # Initialize the flag for whether destination is found
    found_dest = False
 
    # Main loop of A* search algorithm
    while len(open_list) > 0:
        # Pop the cell with the smallest f value from the open list
        p = heapq.heappop(open_list)
 
        # Mark the cell as visited
        i = p[1]
        j = p[2]
        closed_list[i][j] = True
 
        # For each direction, check the successors
        directions = [(0, 1), (0, -1), (1, 0), (-1, 0), (1, 1), (1, -1), (-1, 1), (-1, -1)]
        for dir in directions:
            new_i = i + dir[0]
            new_j = j + dir[1]
 
            # If the successor is valid, unblocked, and not visited
            if is_valid(new_i, new_j) and is_unblocked(grid, new_i, new_j) and not closed_list[new_i][new_j]:
                # If the successor is the destination
                if is_destination(new_i, new_j, dest):
                    # Set the parent of the destination cell
                    cell_details[new_i][new_j].parent_i = i
                    cell_details[new_i][new_j].parent_j = j
                    print("The destination cell is found")
                    # Trace and print the path from source to destination
                    trace_path(cell_details, dest)
                    found_dest = True
                    return
                else:
                    # Calculate the new f, g, and h values
                    g_new = cell_details[i][j].g + 1.0
                    h_new = calculate_h_value(new_i, new_j, dest)
                    f_new = g_new + h_new
 
                    # If the cell is not in the open list or the new f value is smaller
                    if cell_details[new_i][new_j].f == float('inf') or cell_details[new_i][new_j].f > f_new:
                        # Add the cell to the open list
                        heapq.heappush(open_list, (f_new, new_i, new_j))
                        # Update the cell details
                        cell_details[new_i][new_j].f = f_new
                        cell_details[new_i][new_j].g = g_new
                        cell_details[new_i][new_j].h = h_new
                        cell_details[new_i][new_j].parent_i = i
                        cell_details[new_i][new_j].parent_j = j
 
    # If the destination is not found after visiting all cells
    if not found_dest:
        print("Failed to find the destination cell")
 
def main():
    # Define the grid (1 for unblocked, 0 for blocked)
    grid = [
        [1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1],
        [1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1],
        [1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1],
        [0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1],
        [1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0],
        [1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0],
        [1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1],
        [1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1],
        [1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1]
    ]
 
    # Define the source and destination
    src = [8, 0]
    dest = [0, 0]
 
    # Run the A* search algorithm
    a_star_search(grid, src, dest)
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()


Limitations 
Although being the best path finding algorithm around, A* Search Algorithm doesn’t produce the shortest path always, as it relies heavily on heuristics / approximations to calculate – h

Applications 
This is the most interesting part of A* Search Algorithm. They are used in games! But how?
Ever played Tower Defense Games
Tower defense is a type of strategy video game where the goal is to defend a player’s territories or possessions by obstructing enemy attackers, usually achieved by placing defensive structures on or along their path of attack. 
A* Search Algorithm is often used to find the shortest path from one point to another point. You can use this for each enemy to find a path to the goal.
One example of this is the very popular game- Warcraft III 

What if the search space is not a grid and is a graph ?
The same rules applies there also. The example of grid is taken for the simplicity of understanding. So we can find the shortest path between the source node and the target node in a graph using this A* Search Algorithm, just like we did for a 2D Grid.

Time Complexity 
Considering a graph, it may take us to travel all the edge to reach the destination cell from the source cell [For example, consider a graph where source and destination nodes are connected by a series of edges, like – 0(source) –>1 –> 2 –> 3 (target)
So the worse case time complexity is O(E), where E is the number of edges in the graph

Auxiliary Space In the worse case we can have all the edges inside the open list, so required auxiliary space in worst case is O(V), where V is the total number of vertices.

Exercise to the Readers- 
Ever wondered how to make a game like- Pacman where there are many such obstacles. Can we use A* Search Algorithm to find the correct way ?
Think about it as a fun exercise.

Articles for interested readers 
In our program, the obstacles are fixed. What if the obstacles are moving ? Interested readers may see here an excellent discussion on this topic.

Summary 
So when to use BFS over A*, when to use Dijkstra over A* to find the shortest paths ? 
We can summarise this as below-
1) One source and One Destination- 
? Use A* Search Algorithm (For Unweighted as well as Weighted Graphs)
2) One Source, All Destination – 
? Use BFS (For Unweighted Graphs) 
? Use Dijkstra (For Weighted Graphs without negative weights) 
? Use Bellman Ford (For Weighted Graphs with negative weights)
3) Between every pair of nodes- 
? Floyd-Warshall 
? Johnson’s Algorithm

Related Article: 
Best First Search (Informed Search)

References- 
http://theory.stanford.edu/~amitp/GameProgramming/ 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A*_search_algorithm  



Last Updated : 07 Mar, 2024
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