Word Search Solver Visualizer
The Word Search Solver Visualizer demonstrates how an algorithm searches for a word inside a grid of letters. The solver uses Depth-First Search (DFS) combined with Backtracking to explore possible paths in the grid. Starting from each cell, the algorithm attempts to match the first character of the word and recursively explores adjacent cells (up, down, left, right) to match the remaining characters. If the current path fails, the algorithm backtracks and tries alternative directions. This visualization highlights each step of the search process, showing visited cells and the final path when the word is found.
Algorithm explanation
The algorithm iterates through every cell of the grid and tries to start a DFS search from that position. If the current cell matches the first letter of the word, the algorithm recursively explores its neighboring cells to match the next character. During the search, visited cells are temporarily marked to prevent reuse in the same path. If the word cannot be completed from that path, the algorithm backtracks and restores the cell state. This continues until the word is found or all starting positions have been exhausted.
Concepts used
- Depth-First Search
- Backtracking
- Recursion
- Grid Traversal
- Matrix Algorithms
Complexity
O(N × M × 4^L)O(L)Real-world usage
- Solving word search puzzles automatically
- Educational visualization of recursion and backtracking
- Pattern matching in grid-based problems
- Game AI for puzzle games