MazeRecursion.java

package com.thealgorithms.backtracking;

/**
 * This class contains methods to solve a maze using recursive backtracking.
 * The maze is represented as a 2D array where walls, paths, and visited/dead
 * ends are marked with different integers.
 *
 * The goal is to find a path from a starting position to the target position
 * (map[6][5]) while navigating through the maze.
 */
public final class MazeRecursion {

    private MazeRecursion() {
    }

    /**
     * This method solves the maze using the "down -> right -> up -> left"
     * movement strategy.
     *
     * @param map The 2D array representing the maze (walls, paths, etc.)
     * @return The solved maze with paths marked, or null if no solution exists.
     */
    public static int[][] solveMazeUsingFirstStrategy(int[][] map) {
        if (setWay(map, 1, 1)) {
            return map;
        }
        return null;
    }

    /**
     * This method solves the maze using the "up -> right -> down -> left"
     * movement strategy.
     *
     * @param map The 2D array representing the maze (walls, paths, etc.)
     * @return The solved maze with paths marked, or null if no solution exists.
     */
    public static int[][] solveMazeUsingSecondStrategy(int[][] map) {
        if (setWay2(map, 1, 1)) {
            return map;
        }
        return null;
    }

    /**
     * Attempts to find a path through the maze using a "down -> right -> up -> left"
     * movement strategy. The path is marked with '2' for valid paths and '3' for dead ends.
     *
     * @param map The 2D array representing the maze (walls, paths, etc.)
     * @param i   The current x-coordinate of the ball (row index)
     * @param j   The current y-coordinate of the ball (column index)
     * @return True if a path is found to (6,5), otherwise false
     */
    private static boolean setWay(int[][] map, int i, int j) {
        if (map[6][5] == 2) {
            return true;
        }

        // If the current position is unvisited (0), explore it
        if (map[i][j] == 0) {
            // Mark the current position as '2'
            map[i][j] = 2;

            // Move down
            if (setWay(map, i + 1, j)) {
                return true;
            }
            // Move right
            else if (setWay(map, i, j + 1)) {
                return true;
            }
            // Move up
            else if (setWay(map, i - 1, j)) {
                return true;
            }
            // Move left
            else if (setWay(map, i, j - 1)) {
                return true;
            }

            map[i][j] = 3; // Mark as dead end (3) if no direction worked
            return false;
        }
        return false;
    }

    /**
     * Attempts to find a path through the maze using an alternative movement
     * strategy "up -> right -> down -> left".
     *
     * @param map The 2D array representing the maze (walls, paths, etc.)
     * @param i   The current x-coordinate of the ball (row index)
     * @param j   The current y-coordinate of the ball (column index)
     * @return True if a path is found to (6,5), otherwise false
     */
    private static boolean setWay2(int[][] map, int i, int j) {
        if (map[6][5] == 2) {
            return true;
        }

        if (map[i][j] == 0) {
            map[i][j] = 2;

            // Move up
            if (setWay2(map, i - 1, j)) {
                return true;
            }
            // Move right
            else if (setWay2(map, i, j + 1)) {
                return true;
            }
            // Move down
            else if (setWay2(map, i + 1, j)) {
                return true;
            }
            // Move left
            else if (setWay2(map, i, j - 1)) {
                return true;
            }

            map[i][j] = 3; // Mark as dead end (3) if no direction worked
            return false;
        }
        return false;
    }
}