---
name: "dijkstra"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "graphviz"
version: "16.1.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dijkstra"
---

# dijkstra(1)

single-source distance filter for Graphviz

## NAME

dijkstra - single-source distance filter for Graphviz

## SYNOPSIS

**dijkstra** \[ **-adp?** \] \[  *sourcenode file* \]

## DESCRIPTION

**dijkstra** reads a stream of Graphviz formatted graphs and for each computes the distance of every node from  *sourcenode.* Edge length is given in the  *len* attribute, and the default is 1.  The  *dist* attribute of every node is set to its distance from *sourcenode.* If the **-p** flag is used, the *prev* attribute of each node reachable from *sourcenode* is set to the name of the previous node on a shortest path. The graph attribute *maxdist* is set to the maximum  *dist* of all nodes in the graph.

If the **-d** flag is used, the graph is treated as directed and  only forward edges are used.

By default, if the graph is disconnected, the *dist* attribute of nodes unreachable from *sourcenode* are left untouched, and *maxdist* is set to the maximum of any previous value and the largest distance recorded in this run. On the other hand, if the **-a** flag is used, the *dist* attribute of an unreachable node is assigned a very large value, and *maxdist* records the maximum distance found in the component containing *sourcenode.*

Any number of *sourcenode file* pairs may be given. If the last  *file* is missing, **stdin** is used. All output is written to **stdout**.

In a typical application, *dist* and  *maxdist* can drive a downstream calculation of color or some other attribute.

## SEE ALSO

[gvpr(1)](/gvpr/1.md), [gvcolor(1)](/gvcolor/1.md), libgraph(3)