The code `if (visitedIndices[startIndex])` checks whether the value at the...

August 25, 2025 at 05:52 AM

if (visitedIndices[startIndex])

The code if (visitedIndices[startIndex]) checks whether the value at the startIndex position in the visitedIndices array (or other indexable data structure, like a list or map) evaluates to true.

Here’s a breakdown of what this might indicate:

  1. visitedIndices:

    • This is expected to be an array, list, or similar data structure that contains boolean-like values (true/false or 1/0). It likely tracks whether specific indices (such as positions in another array or nodes in a graph) have been visited.
  2. startIndex:

    • A variable or identifier representing the index to check in the visitedIndices data structure.
  3. Purpose of the code:

    • This code is often used to determine whether the startIndex has been "visited" before. This is common in algorithms such as DFS (Depth-First Search), BFS (Breadth-First Search), or iterations where certain elements need to be processed only once to prevent duplicates, infinite loops, or redundant work.
  4. Execution:

    • If the value at visitedIndices[startIndex] is true (or a truthy value), the condition will evaluate to true, and the code inside the if block will execute.
    • If the value is false (or a falsy value, like 0 or null), then the condition will fail, and the code inside the block will be skipped.

Example Context:

In a graph traversal, this might look like:

bool visitedIndices[10] = {0}; // Array to track visited nodes
int startIndex = 5;

if (visitedIndices[startIndex]) {
    // This node has already been visited.
    // Take appropriate action, like ignoring the node.
    cout << "Node already visited!";
}

In this example, it's checking whether the node at startIndex has been visited.

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