---
id: 587d8258367417b2b2512c7f
title: Use Breadth First Search in a Binary Search Tree
challengeType: 1
forumTopicId: 301718
---

## Description
<section id='description'>
Here we will introduce another tree traversal method: breadth-first search. In contrast to the depth-first search methods from the last challenge, breadth-first search explores all the nodes in a given level within a tree before continuing on to the next level. Typically, queues are utilized as helper data structures in the design of breadth-first search algorithms.
In this method, we start by adding the root node to a queue. Then we begin a loop where we dequeue the first item in the queue, add it to a new array, and then inspect both its child subtrees. If its children are not null, they are each enqueued. This process continues until the queue is empty.
</section>

## Instructions
<section id='instructions'>
Let's create a breadth-first search method in our tree called <code>levelOrder</code>. This method should return an array containing the values of all the tree nodes, explored in a breadth-first manner. Be sure to return the values in the array, not the nodes themselves. A level should be traversed from left to right. Next, let's write a similar method called <code>reverseLevelOrder</code> which performs the same search but in the reverse direction (right to left) at each level.
</section>

## Tests
<section id='tests'>

```yml
tests:
  - text: The <code>BinarySearchTree</code> data structure should exist.
    testString: assert((function() { var test = false; if (typeof BinarySearchTree !== 'undefined') { test = new BinarySearchTree() }; return (typeof test == 'object')})());
  - text: The binary search tree should have a method called <code>levelOrder</code>.
    testString: assert((function() { var test = false; if (typeof BinarySearchTree !== 'undefined') { test = new BinarySearchTree() } else { return false; }; return (typeof test.levelOrder == 'function')})());
  - text: The binary search tree should have a method called <code>reverseLevelOrder</code>.
    testString: assert((function() { var test = false; if (typeof BinarySearchTree !== 'undefined') { test = new BinarySearchTree() } else { return false; }; return (typeof test.reverseLevelOrder == 'function')})());
  - text: The <code>levelOrder</code> method should return an array of the tree node values explored in level order.
    testString: assert((function() { var test = false; if (typeof BinarySearchTree !== 'undefined') { test = new BinarySearchTree() } else { return false; }; if (typeof test.levelOrder !== 'function') { return false; }; test.add(7); test.add(1); test.add(9); test.add(0); test.add(3); test.add(8); test.add(10); test.add(2); test.add(5); test.add(4); test.add(6); return (test.levelOrder().join('') == '719038102546'); })());
  - text: The <code>reverseLevelOrder</code> method should return an array of the tree node values explored in reverse level order.
    testString: assert((function() { var test = false; if (typeof BinarySearchTree !== 'undefined') { test = new BinarySearchTree() } else { return false; }; if (typeof test.reverseLevelOrder !== 'function') { return false; }; test.add(7); test.add(1); test.add(9); test.add(0); test.add(3); test.add(8); test.add(10); test.add(2); test.add(5); test.add(4); test.add(6); return (test.reverseLevelOrder().join('') == '791108305264'); })());
  - text: The <code>levelOrder</code> method should return <code>null</code> for an empty tree.
    testString: assert((function() { var test = false; if (typeof BinarySearchTree !== 'undefined') { test = new BinarySearchTree() } else { return false; }; if (typeof test.levelOrder !== 'function') { return false; }; return (test.levelOrder() == null); })());
  - text: The <code>reverseLevelOrder</code> method should return <code>null</code> for an empty tree.
    testString: assert((function() { var test = false; if (typeof BinarySearchTree !== 'undefined') { test = new BinarySearchTree() } else { return false; }; if (typeof test.reverseLevelOrder !== 'function') { return false; }; return (test.reverseLevelOrder() == null); })());
```

</section>

## Challenge Seed
<section id='challengeSeed'>

<div id='js-seed'>

```js
var displayTree = tree => console.log(JSON.stringify(tree, null, 2));
function Node(value) {
  this.value = value;
  this.left = null;
  this.right = null;
}
function BinarySearchTree() {
  this.root = null;
  // Only change code below this line
  
  // Only change code above this line
}
```

</div>

### After Test
<div id='js-teardown'>

```js
BinarySearchTree.prototype = Object.assign(
  BinarySearchTree.prototype,
  {
    add: function(value) {
      function searchTree(node) {
        if (value < node.value) {
          if (node.left == null) {
            node.left = new Node(value);
            return;
          } else if (node.left != null) {
            return searchTree(node.left);
          }
        } else if (value > node.value) {
          if (node.right == null) {
            node.right = new Node(value);
            return;
          } else if (node.right != null) {
            return searchTree(node.right);
          }
        } else {
          return null;
        }
      }
      var node = this.root;
      if (node == null) {
        this.root = new Node(value);
        return;
      } else {
        return searchTree(node);
      }
    }
  }
);
```

</div>
</section>

## Solution
<section id='solution'>

```js
var displayTree = tree => console.log(JSON.stringify(tree, null, 2));
function Node(value) {
  this.value = value;
  this.left = null;
  this.right = null;
}
function BinarySearchTree() {
  this.root = null;
  // Only change code below this line
  this.levelOrder = (root = this.root) => {
    if(!root) return null;
    let queue = [root];
    let results = [];
    while(queue.length > 0) {
      let node = queue.shift();
      results.push(node.value);
      if(node.left) queue.push(node.left);
      if(node.right) queue.push(node.right);
    }
    return results;
  }

  this.reverseLevelOrder = (root = this.root) => {
    if(!root) return null;
    let queue = [root];
    let results = [] ;
    while ( queue.length > 0) {
      let node = queue.shift();
      results.push(node.value);
      if(node.right) queue.push(node.right);
      if(node.left ) queue.push(node.left);
    }
    return results;
  }
  // Only change code above this line
}
```

</section>