Data Modelling & AI Data Structure & Algorithm

Minimum time to visit all nodes of given Graph at least once

23 June 2025

0

Given a graph and the list of neighbours for each node in an array graph[] of size N, where graph[i] contains a list of neighbor nodes that are connected to i^th node, the task is to visit all the nodes of the given graph in a minimum amount of time.

Note: Movement from any node to its neighbour takes one unit of time

Example:

Input: [[1, 2, 3], [2, 0], [0, 1], [0, 4], [3]]
Output: 4
Explanation:
One possible way to visit all node in minimum number of time is shown by the below graph

Input: [[1, 2, 3], [2, 0], [0, 1], [0]]
Output: 3

An approach using BFS + BitMasking:

Usually it is best to use BFS to find the minimum time problem in graph. However, in this case, we cannot use traditional BFS since traditional BFS can only visit the elements once. In this case, repetition is allowed, which means we can traverse any node multiple times, leading to an infinite loop. To handle infinite loop we can use Bitmasking to store the states while moving over graph.

Follow the step below to implement the above idea:

Create an adjacency list from the given graph
Initialize a variable finalMask = (1 << number_of_nodes) – 1, this represent the state when all node has been visited.
Initialize a variable timeCount = 0 to keep track of the minimum time to visit all nodes.
Initialize a queue for BFS which will store the current node id and mask of visited nodes.
Initialize a 2D array visited[][] for keeping track of nodes with all possible masks that are visited in the path.
Push every node as a starting node for all possible paths with their mask for counting the number of the minimum time to visit all the node
While the queue is not empty:
- Iterate over each level
  - Fetch and pop the current node
  - Check if the current node mask is equal to finalMask:
    - If the condition is true, return timeCount as the result.
  - Explore all the children of the current node:
    - Make a new mask for the child by toggling the i^th bit of the current Mask.
    - If the new mask for the child has not been visited yet, push the child and new Mask in the queue and mark visited for the child with new mask.
- Increment the time Count after each level

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ code to implement the approach
 
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
 
// Function to calculate the minimum time
int minimizeTime(vector<vector<int> >& graph)
{
    long long n = graph.size();
 
    // Create adjacency list from the given graph
    vector<vector<long long> > adj(n);
 
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        for (auto j : graph[i]) {
 
            adj[i].push_back(j);
        }
    }
 
    // Final mask when all the node will be visited
    long long finalMask = (long long)(1 << n) - 1;
 
    // Initialize a queue for BFS which will store current
    // node id and mask of visited nodes.
    queue<pair<long long, long long> > q;
 
    // Initialize a visited array for keeping track
    // of all mask that are visited in the path
    vector<vector<bool> > visited(
        n, vector<bool>(finalMask + 1));
 
    // Push starting node for
    // all possible path with their mask
    for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
        q.push({ i, (long long)(1 << i) });
    }
 
    // For counting the minimum time
    // to visit all the nodes
    long long timeCount = 0;
 
    // Do while q.size > 0
    while (q.size() > 0) {
        int size = q.size();
 
        // Iterate over each level
        for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
 
            // Fetch and pop the current node
            auto curr = q.front();
            q.pop();
 
            // Check if the current node mask
            // is equal to finalMask
            if (curr.second == finalMask)
                return timeCount;
 
            // Explore all the child of current node
            for (auto child : adj[curr.first]) {
 
                // Make a new Mask for child
                long long newVisitedBit
                    = curr.second | (1 << child);
 
                // If new Mask for child has
                // not been visited yet,
                // push child and new Mask in
                // the queue and mark visited
                // for child with newVisitedBit
                if (visited[child][newVisitedBit]
                    == false) {
 
                    q.push({ child, newVisitedBit });
                    visited[child][newVisitedBit] = true;
                }
            }
        }
 
        // Increment the time Count after each level
        timeCount++;
    }
 
    // If all node can't be visited
    return -1;
}
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    vector<vector<int> > graph = {
        { 1, 2, 3 }, { 2, 0 }, { 0, 1 }, { 0, 4 }, { 3 }
    };
 
    // Function call
    int minTime = minimizeTime(graph);
    cout << minTime << endl;
 
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java code to implement the approach
import java.util.*;
 
// Pair class
class Pair {
    int first, second;
 
    Pair(int first, int second)
    {
        this.first = first;
        this.second = second;
    }
 
    public int getKey() { return this.first; }
 
    public int getValue() { return this.second; }
}
 
class GFG {
    // Function to calculate the minimum time
    public static int
    minimizeTime(ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer> > graph)
    {
        int n = graph.size();
 
        // Create adjacency list from the given graph
        ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer> > adj
            = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer> >(n);
 
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            adj.add(new ArrayList<Integer>());
            for (int j : graph.get(i)) {
                adj.get(i).add(j);
            }
        }
 
        // Final mask when all the node will be visited
        int finalMask = (1 << n) - 1;
 
        // Initialize a queue for BFS which will store
        // current node id and mask of visited nodes.
        Queue<Pair> q = new LinkedList<Pair>();
 
        // Initialize a visited array for keeping track
        // of all mask that are visited in the path
        boolean[][] visited = new boolean[n][finalMask + 1];
 
        // Push starting node for
        // all possible path with their mask
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            q.add(new Pair(i, (1 << i)));
        }
 
        // For counting the minimum time
        // to visit all the nodes
        int timeCount = 0;
 
        // Do while q.size > 0
        while (q.size() > 0) {
            int size = q.size();
 
            // Iterate over each level
            for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
                // Fetch and pop the current node
                Pair curr = q.poll();
 
                // Check if the current node mask
                // is equal to finalMask
                if (curr.getValue() == finalMask)
                    return timeCount;
 
                // Explore all the child of current node
                for (int child : adj.get(curr.getKey())) {
                    // Make a new Mask for child
                    int newVisitedBit
                        = curr.getValue() | (1 << child);
 
                    // If new Mask for child has
                    // not been visited yet,
                    // push child and new Mask in
                    // the queue and mark visited
                    // for child with newVisitedBit
                    if (visited[child][newVisitedBit]
                        == false) {
                        q.add(
                            new Pair(child, newVisitedBit));
                        visited[child][newVisitedBit]
                            = true;
                    }
                }
            }
            // Increment the time Count after each level
            timeCount++;
        }
        // If all node can't be visited
        return -1;
    }
 
    // Driver code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer> > graph
            = new ArrayList<ArrayList<Integer> >();
        graph.add(
            new ArrayList<Integer>(Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3)));
        graph.add(
            new ArrayList<Integer>(Arrays.asList(2, 0)));
        graph.add(
            new ArrayList<Integer>(Arrays.asList(0, 1)));
        graph.add(
            new ArrayList<Integer>(Arrays.asList(0, 4)));
        graph.add(new ArrayList<Integer>(Arrays.asList(3)));
 
        // Function call
        int minTime = minimizeTime(graph);
        System.out.println(minTime);
    }
}
 
// This code is contributed by Tapesh(tapeshdua420)

Python3

# Python code to implement the approach
 
# Function to calculate the minimum time
def minimizeTime(graph):
    n = len(graph)
     
    # Create adjacency list from the given graph
    adj = [[] for i in range(n)]
     
    for i in range(n):
        for j in graph[i]:
            adj[i].append(j)
     
    # Final mask when all the node will be visited
    finalMask = (1<<n) - 1
     
    # Initialize a queue for BFS which will store current
    # node id and mask of visited nodes.
    q = []
     
    # Initialize a visited array for keeping track
    # of all mask that are visited in the path
    visited = [[0 for i in range(finalMask+1)] for j in range(n)]
     
    # Push starting node for
    # all possible path with their mask
    for i in range(n):
        q.append([i,1<<i])
     
    # For counting the minimum time
    # to visit all the nodes
    timeCount = 0
     
    # Do while q.size > 0
     
    while(len(q) > 0):
        size = len(q)
         
        # Iterate over each level
        for i in range(size):
             
            # Fetch and pop the current node
            curr = q.pop(0)
             
            # Check if the current node mask
            # is equal to finalMask
            if(curr[1] == finalMask):
                return timeCount
             
            # Explore all the child of current node
            for child in adj[curr[0]]:
                 
                # Make a new Mask for child
                newVisitedBit = curr[1]|(1<<child)
                 
                # If new Mask for child has
                # not been visited yet,
                # push child and new Mask in
                # the queue and mark visited
                # for child with newVisitedBit
                if(visited[child][newVisitedBit] == False):
                    q.append([child,newVisitedBit])
                    visited[child][newVisitedBit] = True
                     
     
        # Increment the time Count after each level
        timeCount = timeCount + 1
     
    # If all node can't be visited
    return -1
     
# Driver code
graph = [[1,2,3],[2,0],[0,1],[0,4],[3]]
 
# Function calla
minTime = minimizeTime(graph)
print(minTime)
 
# This code is contributed by Pushpesh Raj.

C#

// C# code to implement the approach
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
 
class Program {
    // Driver code
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        List<List<int> > graph = new List<List<int> >();
        graph.Add(new List<int>(new int[] { 1, 2, 3 }));
        graph.Add(new List<int>(new int[] { 2, 0 }));
        graph.Add(new List<int>(new int[] { 0, 1 }));
        graph.Add(new List<int>(new int[] { 0, 4 }));
        graph.Add(new List<int>(new int[] { 3 }));
 
        // Function call
        int minTime = minimizeTime(graph);
        Console.WriteLine(minTime);
    }
 
    // Function to calculate the minimum time
    public static int minimizeTime(List<List<int> > graph)
    {
        int n = graph.Count;
 
        // Create adjacency list from the given graph
        List<List<int> > adj = new List<List<int> >(n);
 
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            adj.Add(new List<int>());
            foreach(int j in graph[i]) { adj[i].Add(j); }
        }
 
        // Final mask when all the node will be visited
        int finalMask = (1 << n) - 1;
 
        // Initialize a queue for BFS which will store
        // current node id and mask of visited nodes.
        Queue<Pair> q = new Queue<Pair>();
 
        // Initialize a visited array for keeping track
        // of all mask that are visited in the path
        bool[, ] visited = new bool[n, finalMask + 1];
 
        // Push starting node for
        // all possible path with their mask
        for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
            q.Enqueue(new Pair(i, (1 << i)));
        }
 
        // For counting the minimum time
        // to visit all the nodes
        int timeCount = 0;
 
        // Do while q.size > 0
        while (q.Count > 0) {
            int size = q.Count;
 
            // Iterate over each level
            for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
                // Fetch and pop the current node
                Pair curr = q.Dequeue();
 
                // Check if the current node mask
                // is equal to finalMask
                if (curr.getValue() == finalMask)
                    return timeCount;
 
                // Explore all the child of current node
                foreach(int child in adj[curr.getKey()])
                {
                    // Make a new Mask for child
                    int newVisitedBit
                        = curr.getValue() | (1 << child);
 
                    // If new Mask for child has
                    // not been visited yet,
                    // push child and new Mask in
                    // the queue and mark visited
                    // for child with newVisitedBit
                    if (visited[child, newVisitedBit]
                        == false) {
                        q.Enqueue(
                            new Pair(child, newVisitedBit));
                        visited[child, newVisitedBit]
                            = true;
                    }
                }
            }
            // Increment the time Count after each level
            timeCount++;
        }
        // If all node can't be visited
        return -1;
    }
}
 
// Pair class
class Pair {
    public int first, second;
 
    public Pair(int first, int second)
    {
        this.first = first;
        this.second = second;
    }
 
    public int getKey() { return this.first; }
 
    public int getValue() { return this.second; }
}
 
// This code is contributed by Tapesh(tapeshdua420)

Javascript

// JavaScript code to implement the approach
 
// Function to calculate the minimum time
function minimizeTime(graph){
    var n = graph.length;
 
    // Create adjacency list from the given graph
    var adj = [];
    for(var i=0;i<n;i++){
        adj.push([]);
        for(var j=0;j<graph[i].length;j++){
            adj[i].push(graph[i][j]);
        }
    }
 
    // Final mask when all the node will be visited
    var finalMask = (1<<n) - 1;
 
    // Initialize a queue for BFS which will store current
    // node id and mask of visited nodes.
    var q = [];
 
    // Initialize a visited array for keeping track
    // of all mask that are visited in the path
    var visited = [];
    for(var i=0;i<n;i++){
        visited.push([]);
        for(var j=0;j<=finalMask;j++){
            visited[i].push(0);
        }
    }
 
    // Push starting node for
    // all possible path with their mask
    for(var i=0;i<n;i++){
        q.push([i,1<<i]);
    }
 
    // For counting the minimum time
    // to visit all the nodes
    var timeCount = 0;
 
     // Do while q.size > 0
    while(q.length > 0){
        var size = q.length;
 
        // Iterate over each level
        for(var i=0;i<size;i++){
 
            // Fetch and pop the current node
            var curr = q.shift();
 
            // Check if the current node mask
            // is equal to finalMask
            if(curr[1] == finalMask){
                return timeCount;
            }
 
            // Explore all the child of current node
            for(var j=0;j<adj[curr[0]].length;j++){
                var child = adj[curr[0]][j];
 
                // Make a new Mask for child
                var newVisitedBit = curr[1]|(1<<child);
 
                // If new Mask for child has
                // not been visited yet,
                // push child and new Mask in
                // the queue and mark visited
                // for child with newVisitedBit
                if(visited[child][newVisitedBit] == false){
                    q.push([child,newVisitedBit]);
                    visited[child][newVisitedBit] = true;
                }
            }
        }
 
        // Increment the time Count after each level
        timeCount = timeCount + 1;
    }
    // If all node can't be visited
    return -1;
}
 
// Driver code
var graph = [[1,2,3],[2,0],[0,1],[0,4],[3]];
 
// Function call
var minTime = minimizeTime(graph);
console.log(minTime);
 
// This code is contributed by Tapesh(tapeshdua420).

Output

Time Complexity: O(V + E) where V is the number of vertices and E is the number of edges.
Auxiliary Space: O(V + E)

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Minimum time to visit all nodes of given Graph at least once

C++

Java

Python3

C#

Javascript

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