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Global Accelerated Learning • Est. 1999
Glossary Term SPF Algorithm

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What is SPF Algorithm?

The SPF (Shortest Path First) Algorithm is a Dijkstra-based algorithm used by link-state routing protocols like OSPF and IS-IS to compute the lowest-cost path to each network destination.

Glossary > Network Security > SPF Algorithm

Understanding SPF Algorithm

SPF Algorithm stands for Shortest Path First Algorithm. It is the algorithm, based on Dijkstra's shortest path algorithm, used by link-state routing protocols such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and IS-IS to calculate the optimal (lowest-cost) path to each destination in a network. Each router runs the SPF algorithm against its Link State Database (LSDB) to build a loop-free shortest-path tree with itself as the root, then derives its routing table from that tree.

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