Depth First Search in the Semi-streaming Model

TL;DR

This paper introduces novel semi-streaming algorithms for computing DFS trees in undirected graphs with fewer passes and less space than previous methods, demonstrating practical efficiency on real and random graphs.

Contribution

First semi-streaming algorithms are presented that compute DFS trees in o(n) passes using o(m) space, with a flexible framework for trade-offs between passes and space.

Findings

Algorithms perform well on real and random graphs

Require only a few passes with O(n) space in practice

Improve bounds for shallow DFS trees

Abstract

Depth first search (DFS) tree is a fundamental data structure for solving various graph problems. The classical DFS algorithm requires $O(m+n)$ time for a graph having $n$ vertices and $m$ edges. In the streaming model, an algorithm is allowed several passes (preferably single) over the input graph having a restriction on the size of local space used. Trivially, a DFS tree can be computed using a single pass using $O(m)$ space. In the semi-streaming model allowing $O(n)$ space, it can be computed in $O(n)$ passes, where each pass adds one vertex to the DFS tree. However, it remains an open problem to compute a DFS tree using $o(n)$ passes using $o(m)$ space even in any relaxed streaming environment. We present the first semi-streaming algorithms that compute a DFS tree of an undirected graph in $o(n)$ passes using $o(m)$ space. We first describe an extremely simple algorithm that requires at most $\lceil n/k\rceil$ passes using $O(nk)$ space, where $k$ is any positive integer. We then improve this algorithm by using more involved techniques to reduce the number of passes to $\lceil h/k\rceil$ under similar space constraints, where $h$ is the height of the computed DFS tree. In particular, this algorithm improves the bounds for the case where the computed DFS tree is shallow (having $o(n)$ height). Moreover, this algorithm is presented as a framework that allows the flexibility of using any algorithm to maintain a DFS tree of a stored sparser subgraph as a black box, which may be of independent interest. Both these algorithms essentially demonstrate the existence of a trade-off between the space and number of passes required for computing a DFS tree. Furthermore, we evaluate these algorithms experimentally which reveals their exceptional performance in practice. For both random and real graphs, they require merely a few passes even when allowed just $O(n)$ space.