Confused about recursion in python-depth first search-:

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding recursion in Python, specifically in the context of implementing a Depth-First Search (DFS) algorithm using an adjacency list representation of a graph. Participants express confusion about the flow of execution, particularly after reaching a leaf node in the recursion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the DFS implementation and expresses confusion about the execution flow after reaching a leaf node (1) and how the program continues to execute the for loop for neighbors.
  • Another participant suggests checking the indentation of the for loop, indicating that it should only execute if the node is not in the visited list, and notes that the traversal should not completely stop at node 1.
  • Further clarification is sought regarding how the function returns to the previous call after printing node 1 and continues with the next neighbor (12).
  • There is a question about the output of the DFS, specifically why the output is the node being printed instead of the entire traversal path.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of correct indentation in Python and the implications it has on the flow of the DFS algorithm. However, there remains uncertainty about the execution flow after reaching a leaf node and the expected output of the DFS traversal.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not resolved the specific details of how the recursion unwinds after reaching a leaf node, nor have they clarified the expected output format of the DFS traversal.

shivajikobardan
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Python:
# Python dictionary to act as an adjacency list
graph = {
  '7' : ['19','21', '14'],
  '19': ['1', '12', '31'],
  '21': [],
  '14': ['23', '6'],
  '1' : [],
  '12': [],
  '31': [],
  '23': [],
  '6' : []
}

visited = [] # List of visited nodes of graph.
def dfs(visited, graph, node):
    
    if node not in visited:
        visited.append(node)    for neighbor in graph[node]:
        dfs(visited, graph, neighbor)
    print(node)

# Driver Code
print("Following is the Depth-First Search")
dfs(visited, graph, '7')
print("visited=",visited)
what I don't understand is how do once this program reaches to print(1) what happens next, it doesn't make any sense to me.
idk if I am stupid or what to not realize sth very trivial or idk.

I will try to explain what is my problem, step by step.
steps-:

1) dfs(visited,graph,7)

2)
7 not in visited.
visited=7
dfs(19)

3) 19 not in visited.
visited=7,19
dfs(1)

4) 1 not in visited
visited=7,19,1
1 has no neighbours.
print(1)

imo the code should stop now. Because there is no function call no nth. But in fact the code goes to

for neighbour in graph(node):
dfs(visited,graph,neighbour)
and starts with dfs(12). I don't understand this...How does it happen?

how can it go to for loop just like that?(source-:https://cscircles.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/visualize#mode=display)

even if it doesn't go to for loop, I can't make sense where it really goes. Can you please guide me about this issue?
 
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Check your indentation of the for loop. It is currently in line with the if block but you want to run it only if that condition is false right? Also it shouldn't stop at 1 completely but it will partially stop at 1.

I think it should go visited = [7,19,1,12,31...]
 
Jameson said:
Check your indentation of the for loop. It is currently in line with the if block but you want to run it only if that condition is false right? Also it shouldn't stop at 1 completely but it will partially stop at 1.

I think it should go visited = [7,19,1,12,31...]
yes you are right about visited. but I don't understand how once print(1) happens, how it returns to dfs(19)=>dfs(12)...can you explain that?
 
Jameson said:
Check your indentation of the for loop. It is currently in line with the if block but you want to run it only if that condition is false right? Also it shouldn't stop at 1 completely but it will partially stop at 1.

I think it should go visited = [7,19,1,12,31...]
1643780608888.png


in the slide instead of printing visited, we have printed node...what does that mean? shouldn't output of depth first search be how we traverse? i m not getting this last point.

slide is here(view in desktop) https://slidetodoc.com/tree-and-graph-traversal-algorithms-breadthfirst-search-bfs/
 

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