Admissible Heuristic
Domain: Algorithms
🎯 Motivation
A heuristic that never overestimates the true cost. Required for A* to guarantee an optimal solution.
📋 Concrete Example
Straight-line distance is admissible for road distance: the real road can only be longer or equal, never shorter. A* with this heuristic guarantees the shortest path.
🔗 Analogy
A delivery estimate that says ‘at least 30 minutes.’ The real time might be 40, but it is never less. This underestimate ensures you do not miss the optimal route.