Ford Fulkerson Algorithm | Learn Data Structures and Algorithms

In this tutorial, you will learn what the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm is. Likewise, you will discover working instances of discovering maximum flow in a flow network in C, C++, Java, and Python.

Ford-Fulkerson algorithm is a greedy approach for calculating the maximum conceivable flow in a network or a graph.

A term, flow network, is used to depict a network of vertices and edges with a source (S) and a sink (T). Every vertex, with the exception of S and T, can get and send an equivalent measure of stuff through it. S can just send and T can just get stuff.

We can envision the comprehension of the algorithm using a flow of liquid inside a network of pipes of various capacities. Each pipe has a specific capacity of liquid it can move at a case. For this algorithm, we will discover how much liquid can be moved from the source to the sink at an instance using the network.

In this article, you will learn-

1 Terminologies Used
2 How does Ford-Fulkerson Algorithm work?
3 Ford-Fulkerson Example
4 Python, Java and C/C++ Examples
5 Ford-Fulkerson Applications

Terminologies Used

Augmenting Path

It is the way accessible in a flow network.

Residual Graph

It addresses the flow network that has extra conceivable flow.

Residual Capacity

It is the capacity of the edge in the wake of taking away the flow from the maximum capacity.

How does Ford-Fulkerson Algorithm work?

The algorithm follows:

Introduce the flow in all the edges to 0.

2. While there is an augmenting path between the source and the sink, add this way to the flow.

3. Update the residual graph.

We can likewise consider reverse-path whenever required since, in such a case that we don’t think about them, we may never find a maximum flow.

The above ideas can be perceived with the example beneath.

Ford-Fulkerson Example

The flow of the multitude of edges is 0 toward the start.

1. Select any arbitrary path from S to T. In this step, we have selected path S-A-B-T.

The minimum capacity among the three edges is 2 (B-T). In view of this, update the flow/capacity in every way.

2. Select another way S-D-C-T. The minimum capacity among these edges is 3 (S-D).

Update the capacities according to this.

3. Presently, let us consider the reverse way B-D too. Choosing way S-A-B-D-C-T. The minimum residual capacity among the edges is 1 (D-C).

Updating the capacities.

The capacity for forward and reverse ways is considered separately.

4. Adding all the flows = 2 + 3 + 1 = 6, which is the maximum conceivable flow on the flow network.

Note that assuming the capacity for any edge is full, that way can’t be used.

Python, Java and C/C++ Examples

Python

# Ford-Fulkerson algorith in Python

from collections import defaultdict


class Graph:

    def __init__(self, graph):
        self.graph = graph
        self. ROW = len(graph)


    # Using BFS as a searching algorithm 
    def searching_algo_BFS(self, s, t, parent):

        visited = [False] * (self.ROW)
        queue = []

        queue.append(s)
        visited[s] = True

        while queue:

            u = queue.pop(0)

            for ind, val in enumerate(self.graph[u]):
                if visited[ind] == False and val > 0:
                    queue.append(ind)
                    visited[ind] = True
                    parent[ind] = u

        return True if visited[t] else False

    # Applying fordfulkerson algorithm
    def ford_fulkerson(self, source, sink):
        parent = [-1] * (self.ROW)
        max_flow = 0

        while self.searching_algo_BFS(source, sink, parent):

            path_flow = float("Inf")
            s = sink
            while(s != source):
                path_flow = min(path_flow, self.graph[parent[s]][s])
                s = parent[s]

            # Adding the path flows
            max_flow += path_flow

            # Updating the residual values of edges
            v = sink
            while(v != source):
                u = parent[v]
                self.graph[u][v] -= path_flow
                self.graph[v][u] += path_flow
                v = parent[v]

        return max_flow


graph = [[0, 8, 0, 0, 3, 0],
         [0, 0, 9, 0, 0, 0],
         [0, 0, 0, 0, 7, 2],
         [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5],
         [0, 0, 7, 4, 0, 0],
         [0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0]]

g = Graph(graph)

source = 0
sink = 5

print("Max Flow: %d " % g.ford_fulkerson(source, sink))

Java

// Ford-Fulkerson algorith in Java

import java.util.LinkedList;

class FordFulkerson {
  static final int V = 6;

  // Using BFS as a searching algorithm 
  boolean bfs(int Graph[][], int s, int t, int p[]) {
    boolean visited[] = new boolean[V];
    for (int i = 0; i < V; ++i)
      visited[i] = false;

    LinkedList<Integer> queue = new LinkedList<Integer>();
    queue.add(s);
    visited[s] = true;
    p[s] = -1;

    while (queue.size() != 0) {
      int u = queue.poll();

      for (int v = 0; v < V; v++) {
        if (visited[v] == false && Graph[u][v] > 0) {
          queue.add(v);
          p[v] = u;
          visited[v] = true;
        }
      }
    }

    return (visited[t] == true);
  }

  // Applying fordfulkerson algorithm
  int fordFulkerson(int graph[][], int s, int t) {
    int u, v;
    int Graph[][] = new int[V][V];

    for (u = 0; u < V; u++)
      for (v = 0; v < V; v++)
        Graph[u][v] = graph[u][v];

    int p[] = new int[V];

    int max_flow = 0;

    # Updating the residual calues of edges
    while (bfs(Graph, s, t, p)) {
      int path_flow = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
      for (v = t; v != s; v = p[v]) {
        u = p[v];
        path_flow = Math.min(path_flow, Graph[u][v]);
      }

      for (v = t; v != s; v = p[v]) {
        u = p[v];
        Graph[u][v] -= path_flow;
        Graph[v][u] += path_flow;
      }

      // Adding the path flows
      max_flow += path_flow;
    }

    return max_flow;
  }

  public static void main(String[] args) throws java.lang.Exception {
    int graph[][] = new int[][] { { 0, 8, 0, 0, 3, 0 }, { 0, 0, 9, 0, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 0, 0, 7, 2 },
        { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5 }, { 0, 0, 7, 4, 0, 0 }, { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 } };
    FordFulkerson m = new FordFulkerson();

    System.out.println("Max Flow: " + m.fordFulkerson(graph, 0, 5));

  }
}

/ Ford - Fulkerson algorith in C

#include <stdio.h>

#define A 0
#define B 1
#define C 2
#define MAX_NODES 1000
#define O 1000000000

int n;
int e;
int capacity[MAX_NODES][MAX_NODES];
int flow[MAX_NODES][MAX_NODES];
int color[MAX_NODES];
int pred[MAX_NODES];

int min(int x, int y) {
  return x < y ? x : y;
}

int head, tail;
int q[MAX_NODES + 2];

void enqueue(int x) {
  q[tail] = x;
  tail++;
  color[x] = B;
}

int dequeue() {
  int x = q[head];
  head++;
  color[x] = C;
  return x;
}

// Using BFS as a searching algorithm
int bfs(int start, int target) {
  int u, v;
  for (u = 0; u < n; u++) {
    color[u] = A;
  }
  head = tail = 0;
  enqueue(start);
  pred[start] = -1;
  while (head != tail) {
    u = dequeue();
    for (v = 0; v < n; v++) {
      if (color[v] == A && capacity[u][v] - flow[u][v] > 0) {
        enqueue(v);
        pred[v] = u;
      }
    }
  }
  return color[target] == C;
}

// Applying fordfulkerson algorithm
int fordFulkerson(int source, int sink) {
  int i, j, u;
  int max_flow = 0;
  for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    for (j = 0; j < n; j++) {
      flow[i][j] = 0;
    }
  }

  // Updating the residual values of edges
  while (bfs(source, sink)) {
    int increment = O;
    for (u = n - 1; pred[u] >= 0; u = pred[u]) {
      increment = min(increment, capacity[pred[u]][u] - flow[pred[u]][u]);
    }
    for (u = n - 1; pred[u] >= 0; u = pred[u]) {
      flow[pred[u]][u] += increment;
      flow[u][pred[u]] -= increment;
    }
    // Adding the path flows
    max_flow += increment;
  }
  return max_flow;
}

int main() {
  for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) {
      capacity[i][j] = 0;
    }
  }
  n = 6;
  e = 7;

  capacity[0][1] = 8;
  capacity[0][4] = 3;
  capacity[1][2] = 9;
  capacity[2][4] = 7;
  capacity[2][5] = 2;
  capacity[3][5] = 5;
  capacity[4][2] = 7;
  capacity[4][3] = 4;

  int s = 0, t = 5;
  printf("Max Flow: %d\n", fordFulkerson(s, t));
}

C++

// Ford-Fulkerson algorith in C++

#include <limits.h>
#include <string.h>

#include <iostream>
#include <queue>
using namespace std;

#define V 6

// Using BFS as a searching algorithm
bool bfs(int rGraph[V][V], int s, int t, int parent[]) {
  bool visited[V];
  memset(visited, 0, sizeof(visited));

  queue<int> q;
  q.push(s);
  visited[s] = true;
  parent[s] = -1;

  while (!q.empty()) {
    int u = q.front();
    q.pop();

    for (int v = 0; v < V; v++) {
      if (visited[v] == false && rGraph[u][v] > 0) {
        q.push(v);
        parent[v] = u;
        visited[v] = true;
      }
    }
  }

  return (visited[t] == true);
}

// Applying fordfulkerson algorithm
int fordFulkerson(int graph[V][V], int s, int t) {
  int u, v;

  int rGraph[V][V];
  for (u = 0; u < V; u++)
    for (v = 0; v < V; v++)
      rGraph[u][v] = graph[u][v];

  int parent[V];
  int max_flow = 0;

  // Updating the residual values of edges
  while (bfs(rGraph, s, t, parent)) {
    int path_flow = INT_MAX;
    for (v = t; v != s; v = parent[v]) {
      u = parent[v];
      path_flow = min(path_flow, rGraph[u][v]);
    }

    for (v = t; v != s; v = parent[v]) {
      u = parent[v];
      rGraph[u][v] -= path_flow;
      rGraph[v][u] += path_flow;
    }

    // Adding the path flows
    max_flow += path_flow;
  }

  return max_flow;
}

int main() {
  int graph[V][V] = {{0, 8, 0, 0, 3, 0},
             {0, 0, 9, 0, 0, 0},
             {0, 0, 0, 0, 7, 2},
             {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 5},
             {0, 0, 7, 4, 0, 0},
             {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}};

  cout << "Max Flow: " << fordFulkerson(graph, 0, 5) << endl;
}

Ford-Fulkerson Applications

Water distribution pipeline
Bipartite matching problem
Circulation with demands

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