Difference Between the Adjacency Matrix and Adjacency List
Aspect | Adjacency Matrix | Adjacency List |
---|---|---|
Memory Usage | Requires O(V^2) space | Requires O(V + E) space |
Edge Existence Query | Quick O(1) check | O(degree(v)) check for adjacency of v |
Space Efficiency | Inefficient for sparse graphs | Efficient for sparse graphs |
Adding/Removing Edges | O(1) for adding/removing edges | Depends on data structure, typically O(1) |
Iterating Over Edges | Inefficient, potentially O(V^2) for traversal | Efficient, O(V + E) for traversal |
Suitability | Suitable for dense graphs | Suitable for sparse graphs |
Related Articles
You can also go through the following articles to improve your understanding about the graph data structure:
Implementation of Graph in C++
In C++, graphs are non-linear data structures that are used to represent the relationships between various objects. A graph is defined as a collection of vertices and edges. In this article, we will learn how to implement the graph data structure in C++.