Day 48
Day 48: Introduction to Backtracking
48/60 Days
Day 48: Introduction to Backtracking #
Welcome to Day 48 of our 60 Days of Coding Algorithm Challenge! Today, we’ll explore backtracking, a powerful algorithmic technique used for solving problems recursively by trying out different possibilities until finding a solution.
What is Backtracking? #
Backtracking is an algorithmic technique that considers searching every possible combination in order to solve a computational problem. It builds candidates to the solution incrementally and abandons a candidate (“backtracks”) as soon as it determines that the candidate cannot lead to a valid solution.
Key Concepts of Backtracking #
- Choice: At each step, we make a choice from a set of available options.
- Constraints: The choices we make must satisfy certain problem constraints.
- Goal: We have a specific goal or set of conditions that define a solution.
General Structure of a Backtracking Algorithm #
1def backtrack(candidate):
2 if find_solution(candidate):
3 output(candidate)
4 return
5
6 for next_candidate in list_of_candidates:
7 if is_valid(next_candidate):
8 place(next_candidate)
9 …
Continue Reading
Sign up or log in to access the full lesson and all 60 days of algorithm content.