Breadth First Search
Breadth First Search (BFS) is a graph traversal algorithm that explores all vertices at the present depth level before moving on to vertices at the next depth level. It uses a queue data structure to visit nodes in a level-by-level order, ensuring the shortest path is found in unweighted graphs. BFS is fundamental in computer science for tasks like finding connected components, shortest paths, and solving puzzles.
Developers should learn BFS when working with graph-based problems, such as network routing, social network analysis, or game AI, where finding the shortest path or exploring all nodes efficiently is crucial. It is particularly useful in unweighted graphs, web crawling, and level-order tree traversal, making it essential for algorithms in data structures and competitive programming.