MST (Minimum Spanning Tree)

A Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) is a way to connect all points (nodes) in a network with the least total cost or distance, without any loops. Imagine a network of cities connected by roads; an MST finds the shortest set of roads that link all cities together efficiently. It ensures every point is reachable while minimizing the overall connection cost. MST algorithms, like Kruskal's or Prim's, systematically select the cheapest connections to build this minimal "spanning" network, which is useful in designing efficient communication, transportation, or utility systems.