> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://liuzhenglaichn.gitbook.io/algorithm/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://liuzhenglaichn.gitbook.io/algorithm/graph/shortest-path/bellman-ford.md).

# Bellman Ford

* Computes shortest paths from **a single source vertex** to all of the other vertices in a weighted directed graph.
* Slower than Dijkstra's algorithm. Its time complexity is `O(VE)`.
* Can handle graph with negative weight edges.
* Works better (than Dijkstra's) for distributed system. Unlike Dijkstra's where we need to find minimum value of all vertices, Bellman-Force considers edges one by one.

## Implementation

Let `dist[u]` be the length of the shortest path from `src` to `u`.

Initially `dist[src] = 0` and `dist[u] = INF` for all other vertices.

Repeat `V - 1` times (since the path in the graph is at most of length `V - 1`):

* For each edge `E = (u, v, weight)`, try to use `E` to update the `dist[v]`: If `dist[u] + weight < dist[v]`, then `dist[v] = dist[u] + weight`.

```cpp
// Time: O(VE)
// Space: O(V)
vector<int> bellmanFord(vector<vector<int>>& edges, int V, int src) {
    vector<int> dist(N, INT_MAX);
    dist[src] = 0;
    for (int i = 1; i < V; ++i) { // try to use all the edges to relax V-1 times.
        for (auto &e : edges) {
            int u = e[0], v = e[1], w = e[2];
            if (dist[u] == INT_MAX) continue;
            dist[v] = min(dist[v], dist[u] + w); // Try to use this edge to relax the cost of `v`.
        }
    }
    return dist;
}
```

## Problems

* [743. Network Delay Time](https://leetcode.com/problems/network-delay-time/)
* [787. Cheapest Flights Within K Stops (Medium)](https://leetcode.com/problems/cheapest-flights-within-k-stops)

## Reference

* [Bellman–Ford algorithm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellman%E2%80%93Ford_algorithm)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://liuzhenglaichn.gitbook.io/algorithm/graph/shortest-path/bellman-ford.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
