Analysis of the Shortest Path Method Application in Social Networks

This paper analyzes the shortest path problem (SPP) in social networks, based on the investigation and implementation of different methods on a simulated example. The objectives of the paper include identification of the most commonly used methods for finding the shortest path in a social network as a strategic attempt to speed the search of network nodes, focusing on the application of the two most used SPP methods: the Dijkstra and Bellman-Ford algorithms. A comparative analysis is used as an investigation method for performance evaluation of different algorithms, based on their implementation and behavior, tested on a social network example. The research results indicate that the Dijkstra algorithm is faster, and therefore more suitable for searching the shortest connection in social networks.