32.11. Graph Algorithm examples

For details on the graph algorithm usage, see the Javadocs.

[Tip]Tip

The source code used in the example is found here: PathFindingDocTest.java

Calculating the shortest path (least number of relationships) between two nodes:

Node startNode = graphDb.createNode();
Node middleNode1 = graphDb.createNode();
Node middleNode2 = graphDb.createNode();
Node middleNode3 = graphDb.createNode();
Node endNode = graphDb.createNode();
createRelationshipsBetween( startNode, middleNode1, endNode );
createRelationshipsBetween( startNode, middleNode2, middleNode3, endNode );

// Will find the shortest path between startNode and endNode via
// "MY_TYPE" relationships (in OUTGOING direction), like f.ex:
//
// (startNode)-->(middleNode1)-->(endNode)
//
PathFinder<Path> finder = GraphAlgoFactory.shortestPath(
    PathExpanders.forTypeAndDirection( ExampleTypes.MY_TYPE, Direction.OUTGOING ), 15 );
Iterable<Path> paths = finder.findAllPaths( startNode, endNode );

Using Dijkstra’s algorithm to calculate cheapest path between node A and B where each relationship can have a weight (i.e. cost) and the path(s) with least cost are found.

PathFinder<WeightedPath> finder = GraphAlgoFactory.dijkstra(
    PathExpanders.forTypeAndDirection( ExampleTypes.MY_TYPE, Direction.BOTH ), "cost" );

WeightedPath path = finder.findSinglePath( nodeA, nodeB );

// Get the weight for the found path
path.weight();

Using A* to calculate the cheapest path between node A and B, where cheapest is for example the path in a network of roads which has the shortest length between node A and B. Here’s our example graph:

A* algorithm example graph 
Node nodeA = createNode( "name", "A", "x", 0d, "y", 0d );
Node nodeB = createNode( "name", "B", "x", 7d, "y", 0d );
Node nodeC = createNode( "name", "C", "x", 2d, "y", 1d );
Relationship relAB = createRelationship( nodeA, nodeC, "length", 2d );
Relationship relBC = createRelationship( nodeC, nodeB, "length", 3d );
Relationship relAC = createRelationship( nodeA, nodeB, "length", 10d );

EstimateEvaluator<Double> estimateEvaluator = new EstimateEvaluator<Double>()
{
    @Override
    public Double getCost( final Node node, final Node goal )
    {
        double dx = (Double) node.getProperty( "x" ) - (Double) goal.getProperty( "x" );
        double dy = (Double) node.getProperty( "y" ) - (Double) goal.getProperty( "y" );
        double result = Math.sqrt( Math.pow( dx, 2 ) + Math.pow( dy, 2 ) );
        return result;
    }
};
PathFinder<WeightedPath> astar = GraphAlgoFactory.aStar(
        PathExpanders.allTypesAndDirections(),
        CommonEvaluators.doubleCostEvaluator( "length" ), estimateEvaluator );
WeightedPath path = astar.findSinglePath( nodeA, nodeB );