How does Google Maps find the fastest route?
A toy town, a pot of paint and a whole map of North America show how route planners work. The search spreads from the start and always locks in the closest junction first, then a straight line guess makes it lean toward the destination. Shortcuts saved ahead of time let it search from both ends at once and answer in a split second.
Transcript
You're here, going way over there. Which way is fastest? Points, roads and minutes. A short trip first.
Lock the closest: 2 minutes. 2 plus 1 beats 5. Always the closest next. 10 minutes, guaranteed fastest.
Every way: too slow for a country. Add a guess: straight to the pin. It leans toward the pin. Shortcuts, saved ahead of time.
Streets, big roads, highways, shortcuts. From both ends, until they meet. The answer, in a split second. Still: check the closest first.
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