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Tree, Back, Edge and Cross Edges in DFS of Graph

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Consider a directed graph given in below, DFS of the below graph is 1 2 4 6 3 5 7 8. In below diagram if DFS is applied on this graph a tree is obtained which is connected using green edges.

  • Tree Edge: It is an edge which is present in the tree obtained after applying DFS on the graph. All the Green edges are tree edges. 
  • Forward Edge: It is an edge (u, v) such that v is a descendant but not part of the DFS tree. An edge from 1 to 8 is a forward edge. 
  • Back edge: It is an edge (u, v) such that v is the ancestor of node u but is not part of the DFS tree. Edge from 6 to 2 is a back edge. Presence of back edge indicates a cycle in directed graph
  • Cross Edge: It is an edge that connects two nodes such that they do not have any ancestor and a descendant relationship between them. The edge from node 5 to 4 is a cross edge.

Time Complexity(DFS):

Since all the nodes and vertices are visited, the average time complexity for DFS on a graph is O(V + E), where V is the number of vertices and E is the number of edges. In case of DFS on a tree, the time complexity is O(V), where V is the number of nodes.

Algorithm(DFS):

  • Pick any node. If it is unvisited, mark it as visited and recur on all its adjacent nodes.
  • Repeat until all the nodes are visited, or the node to be searched is found.

Example: Implement DFS using an adjacency list take a directed graph of size n=10, and randomly select the number of edges in the graph varying from 9 to 45. Identify each edge as the forwarding edge, tree edge, back edge, and cross edge.

C++




// C++
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
#include <cstdlib>
#include <ctime>
 
using namespace std;
 
class Graph
{
 
public:
    // instance variables
    int time = 0;
    vector<int> traversal_array;
    int v;
    int e;
    vector<vector<int>> graph_list;
    vector<vector<int>> graph_matrix;
 
    Graph(int v)
    {
        // v is the number of nodes/vertices
        this->v = v;
        // e is the number of edge (randomly chosen between 9 to 45)
        this->e = rand() % (45 - 9 + 1) + 9;
        // adj. list for graph
        this->graph_list.resize(v);
        // adj. matrix for graph
        this->graph_matrix.resize(v, vector<int>(v, 0));
    }
 
    // function to create random graph
    void create_random_graph()
    {
        // add edges upto e
        for (int i = 0; i < this->e; i++)
        {
            // choose src and dest of each edge randomly
            int src = rand() % this->v;
            int dest = rand() % this->v;
            // re-choose if src and dest are same or src and dest already has an edge
            while (src == dest && this->graph_matrix[src][dest] == 1)
            {
                src = rand() % this->v;
                dest = rand() % this->v;
            }
            // add the edge to graph
            this->graph_list[src].push_back(dest);
            this->graph_matrix[src][dest] = 1;
        }
    }
 
    // function to print adj list
    void print_graph_list()
    {
        cout << "Adjacency List Representation:" << endl;
        for (int i = 0; i < this->v; i++)
        {
            cout << i << "-->";
            for (int j = 0; j < this->graph_list[i].size(); j++)
            {
                cout << this->graph_list[i][j] << " ";
            }
            cout << endl;
        }
        cout << endl;
    }
 
    // function to print adj matrix
    void print_graph_matrix()
    {
        cout << "Adjacency Matrix Representation:" << endl;
        for (int i = 0; i < this->graph_matrix.size(); i++)
        {
            for (int j = 0; j < this->graph_matrix[i].size(); j++)
            {
                cout << this->graph_matrix[i][j] << " ";
            }
            cout << endl;
        }
        cout << endl;
    }
 
    // function the get number of edges
    int number_of_edges()
    {
        return this->e;
    }
 
    // function for dfs
    void dfs()
    {
        this->visited.resize(this->v);
        this->start_time.resize(this->v);
        this->end_time.resize(this->v);
        fill(this->visited.begin(), this->visited.end(), false);
 
        for (int node = 0; node < this->v; node++)
        {
            if (!this->visited[node])
            {
                this->traverse_dfs(node);
            }
        }
        cout << endl;
        cout << "DFS Traversal: ";
        for (int i = 0; i < this->traversal_array.size(); i++)
        {
            cout << this->traversal_array[i] << " ";
        }
        cout << endl;
    }
 
    void traverse_dfs(int node)
    {
        // mark the node visited
        this->visited[node] = true;
        // add the node to traversal
        this->traversal_array.push_back(node);
        // get the starting time
        this->start_time[node] = this->time;
        // increment the time by 1
        this->time++;
        // traverse through the neighbours
        for (int neighbour = 0; neighbour < this->graph_list[node].size(); neighbour++)
        {
            // if a node is not visited
            if (!this->visited[this->graph_list[node][neighbour]])
            {
                // marks the edge as tree edge
                cout << "Tree Edge:" << node << "-->" << this->graph_list[node][neighbour] << endl;
                // dfs from that node
                this->traverse_dfs(this->graph_list[node][neighbour]);
            }
            else
            {
                // when the parent node is traversed after the neighbour node
                if (this->start_time[node] > this->start_time[this->graph_list[node][neighbour]] && this->end_time[node] < this->end_time[this->graph_list[node][neighbour]])
                {
                    cout << "Back Edge:" << node << "-->" << this->graph_list[node][neighbour] << endl;
                }
                // when the neighbour node is a descendant but not a part of tree
                else if (this->start_time[node] < this->start_time[this->graph_list[node][neighbour]] && this->end_time[node] > this->end_time[this->graph_list[node][neighbour]])
                {
                    cout << "Forward Edge:" << node << "-->" << this->graph_list[node][neighbour] << endl;
                }
                // when parent and neighbour node do not have any ancestor and a descendant relationship between them
                else if (this->start_time[node] > this->start_time[this->graph_list[node][neighbour]] && this->end_time[node] > this->end_time[this->graph_list[node][neighbour]])
                {
                    cout << "Cross Edge:" << node << "-->" << this->graph_list[node][neighbour] << endl;
                }
            }
            this->end_time[node] = this->time;
            this->time++;
        }
    }
 
private:
    vector<bool> visited;
    vector<int> start_time;
    vector<int> end_time;
};
 
int main()
{
    srand(time(NULL));
    int n = 10;
    Graph g(n);
    g.create_random_graph();
    g.print_graph_list();
    g.print_graph_matrix();
    g.dfs();
    return 0;
}
 
// This code is contributed by akashish__


Python3




# code
import random
 
 
class Graph:
    # instance variables
    def __init__(self, v):
        # v is the number of nodes/vertices
        self.time = 0
        self.traversal_array = []
        self.v = v
        # e is the number of edge (randomly chosen between 9 to 45)
        self.e = random.randint(9, 45)
        # adj. list for graph
        self.graph_list = [[] for _ in range(v)]
        # adj. matrix for graph
        self.graph_matrix = [[0 for _ in range(v)] for _ in range(v)]
 
    # function to create random graph
    def create_random_graph(self):
        # add edges upto e
        for i in range(self.e):
            # choose src and dest of each edge randomly
            src = random.randrange(0, self.v)
            dest = random.randrange(0, self.v)
            # re-choose if src and dest are same or src and dest already has an edge
            while src == dest and self.graph_matrix[src][dest] == 1:
                src = random.randrange(0, self.v)
                dest = random.randrange(0, self.v)
            # add the edge to graph
            self.graph_list[src].append(dest)
            self.graph_matrix[src][dest] = 1
 
    # function to print adj list
    def print_graph_list(self):
        print("Adjacency List Representation:")
        for i in range(self.v):
            print(i, "-->", *self.graph_list[i])
        print()
 
    # function to print adj matrix
    def print_graph_matrix(self):
        print("Adjacency Matrix Representation:")
        for i in self.graph_matrix:
            print(i)
        print()
 
    # function the get number of edges
    def number_of_edges(self):
        return self.e
 
    # function for dfs
    def dfs(self):
        self.visited = [False]*self.v
        self.start_time = [0]*self.v
        self.end_time = [0]*self.v
 
        for node in range(self.v):
            if not self.visited[node]:
                self.traverse_dfs(node)
        print()
        print("DFS Traversal: ", self.traversal_array)
        print()
 
    def traverse_dfs(self, node):
        # mark the node visited
        self.visited[node] = True
        # add the node to traversal
        self.traversal_array.append(node)
        # get the starting time
        self.start_time[node] = self.time
        # increment the time by 1
        self.time += 1
        # traverse through the neighbours
        for neighbour in self.graph_list[node]:
            # if a node is not visited
            if not self.visited[neighbour]:
                # marks the edge as tree edge
                print('Tree Edge:', str(node)+'-->'+str(neighbour))
                # dfs from that node
                self.traverse_dfs(neighbour)
            else:
                # when the parent node is traversed after the neighbour node
                if self.start_time[node] > self.start_time[neighbour] and self.end_time[node] < self.end_time[neighbour]:
                    print('Back Edge:', str(node)+'-->'+str(neighbour))
                # when the neighbour node is a descendant but not a part of tree
                elif self.start_time[node] < self.start_time[neighbour] and self.end_time[node] > self.end_time[neighbour]:
                    print('Forward Edge:', str(node)+'-->'+str(neighbour))
                # when parent and neighbour node do not have any ancestor and a descendant relationship between them
                elif self.start_time[node] > self.start_time[neighbour] and self.end_time[node] > self.end_time[neighbour]:
                    print('Cross Edge:', str(node)+'-->'+str(neighbour))
            self.end_time[node] = self.time
            self.time += 1
 
 
if __name__ == "__main__":
    n = 10
    g = Graph(n)
    g.create_random_graph()
    g.print_graph_list()
    g.print_graph_matrix()
    g.dfs()


Javascript




class Graph
{
 
  // instance variables
  constructor(v)
  {
   
    // v is the number of nodes/vertices
    this.time = 0;
    this.traversal_array = [];
    this.v = v;
     
    // e is the number of edge (randomly chosen between 9 to 45)
    this.e = Math.floor(Math.random() * (45 - 9 + 1)) + 9;
     
    // adj. list for graph
    this.graph_list = Array.from({ length: v }, () => []);
     
    // adj. matrix for graph
    this.graph_matrix = Array.from({ length: v }, () =>
      Array.from({ length: v }, () => 0)
    );
  }
 
  // function to create random graph
  create_random_graph()
  {
   
    // add edges upto e
    for (let i = 0; i < this.e; i++)
    {
     
      // choose src and dest of each edge randomly
     // choose src and dest of each edge randomly
      let src = Math.floor(Math.random() * this.v);
      let dest = Math.floor(Math.random() * this.v);
       
      // re-choose if src and dest are same or src and dest already has an edge
      while (src === dest || this.graph_matrix[src][dest] === 1) {
       src = Math.floor(Math.random() * this.v);
        dest = Math.floor(Math.random() * this.v);
      }
       
      // add the edge to graph
      this.graph_list[src].push(dest);
      this.graph_matrix[src][dest] = 1;
    }
  }
 
  // function to print adj list
  print_graph_list() {
    console.log("Adjacency List Representation:"+"<br>");
    for (let i = 0; i < this.v; i++) {
      console.log(i, "-->", ...this.graph_list[i]);
    }
    console.log("<br>");
  }
 
  // function to print adj matrix
  print_graph_matrix() {
    console.log("Adjacency Matrix Representation:"+"<br>");
    for (let i = 0; i < this.graph_matrix.length; i++) {
      console.log(this.graph_matrix[i]);
    }
    console.log("<br>");
  }
 
  // function the get number of edges
  number_of_edges() {
    return this.e;
  }
 
  // function for dfs
  dfs() {
    this.visited = Array.from({ length: this.v }, () => false);
    this.start_time = Array.from({ length: this.v }, () => 0);
    this.end_time = Array.from({ length: this.v }, () => 0);
 
    for (let node = 0; node < this.v; node++) {
      if (!this.visited[node]) {
        this.traverse_dfs(node);
      }
    }
    console.log();
    console.log("DFS Traversal: ", this.traversal_array+"<br>");
    console.log();
  }
 
// function to traverse the graph using DFS
traverse_dfs(node)
{
 
// mark the node as visited
this.visited[node] = true;
 
// add the node to the traversal array
this.traversal_array.push(node);
 
// get the starting time for the node
this.start_time[node] = this.time;
 
// increment the time by 1
this.time += 1;
 
// loop through the neighbours of the node
for (let i = 0; i < this.graph_list[node].length; i++)
{
let neighbour = this.graph_list[node][i];
 
// if the neighbour node is not visited
if (!this.visited[neighbour])
{
 
// mark the edge as a tree edge
console.log("Tree Edge: " + node + "-->" + neighbour+"<br>");
 
// traverse through the neighbour node
this.traverse_dfs(neighbour);
} else {
 
// if parent node is traversed after the neighbour node
if (
this.start_time[node] >
this.start_time[neighbour] &&
this.end_time[node] < this.end_time[neighbour]
) {
console.log("Back Edge: " + node + "-->" + neighbour+"<br>");
}
 
// if the neighbour node is a descendant but not a part of the tree
else if (
this.start_time[node] <
this.start_time[neighbour] &&
this.end_time[node] > this.end_time[neighbour]
) {
console.log("Forward Edge: " + node + "-->" + neighbour+"<br>");
}
 
// if parent and neighbour node do not
// have any ancestor and descendant relationship between them
else if (
this.start_time[node] >
this.start_time[neighbour] &&
this.end_time[node] > this.end_time[neighbour]
) {
console.log("Cross Edge: " + node + "-->" + neighbour+"<br>");
}
}
}
 
// get the ending time for the node
this.end_time[node] = this.time;
 
// increment the time by 1
this.time += 1;
}
 
}
 
// main
const n = 10;
const g = new Graph(n);
g.create_random_graph();
g.print_graph_list();
g.print_graph_matrix();
g.dfs();


Output

Adjacency List Representation:
0 --> 5
1 --> 3 7
2 --> 4 3 8 9
3 --> 3
4 --> 0
5 --> 2 0
6 --> 0
7 --> 7 4 3
8 --> 8 9
9 --> 9

Adjacency Matrix Representation:
[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0]
[0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0]
[0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1]
[0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
[1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
[1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
[1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]
[0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0]
[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1]
[0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1]

Tree Edge: 0-->5
Tree Edge: 5-->2
Tree Edge: 2-->4
Tree Edge: 2-->3
Tree Edge: 2-->8
Tree Edge: 8-->9
Forward Edge: 2-->9
Cross Edge: 5-->0
Back Edge: 1-->3
Tree Edge: 1-->7
Cross Edge: 7-->4
Cross Edge: 7-->3
Back Edge: 6-->0

DFS Traversal:  [0, 5, 2, 4, 3, 8, 9, 1, 7, 6]


Last Updated : 21 Mar, 2023
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