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[#P3112] Is graph isomorphism solvable in polynomial time?

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Two graphs compared by a vertex bijection.
A structural graph diagram of the statement's mathematical objects.
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Problem. Is there a deterministic algorithm that, given two finite simple graphs on \(n\) vertices, decides whether they are isomorphic in time \(n^{O(1)}\), equivalently is graph isomorphism in \(\mathrm P\)?

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Definitions and notation

1Context

Known frontier: Babai's deterministic quasipolynomial-time algorithm is the best general worst-case bound located. Open boundary: A polynomial-time bound remains open.

2Problem setup

Definition 1 (graph isomorphism). A vertex bijection preserving adjacency in both directions.

Definition 2 (quasipolynomial time). Time exp((log n)^{O(1)}).

Remark 1. Graph isomorphism has strong practical solvers and a quasipolynomial worst-case algorithm. It is neither known NP-complete nor known to lie in P.

3What counts as a solution

  • Give and prove a deterministic polynomial-time isomorphism algorithm.
  • Or prove no such algorithm exists in a stated standard model, which would separate complexity classes.

1Status

What counts as a solution

Current status (Current status and exact unresolved remainder). OPEN as checked on 2026-08-01. Strongest checked neighboring result: Babai's deterministic quasipolynomial-time algorithm is the best general worst-case bound located. Exact unresolved remainder: A polynomial-time bound remains open.[1][2]

1Packet records

4 records

Notes and companion material

Original intake status. OPEN as checked on 2026-08-01. Strongest checked neighboring result: Babai's deterministic quasipolynomial-time algorithm is the best general worst-case bound located. Exact unresolved remainder: A polynomial-time bound remains open.

  • Equivalent-formulation queries: graph isomorphism polynomial time open 2026; best general graph isomorphism algorithm quasipolynomial
  • Strongest checked neighboring result: Babai's deterministic quasipolynomial-time algorithm is the best general worst-case bound located.
  • Exact unresolved remainder: A polynomial-time bound remains open.

2See also

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Plain text
“Is graph isomorphism solvable in polynomial time?.” TheoremDB. P3112. Problem statement; statement text SHA-256 95b034a694f7dcd7e87d18fa89a41cc39763e3220b39d64769645cc713b0dae7. https://theoremdb.org/statement/?ref=P3112
BibTeX
@misc{theoremdb-problem-95b034a694f7dcd7e87d18fa89a41cc39763e3220b39d64769645cc713b0dae7,
  title = {{Is graph isomorphism solvable in polynomial time?}},
  howpublished = {TheoremDB},
  note = {Problem statement; statement text SHA-256 95b034a694f7dcd7e87d18fa89a41cc39763e3220b39d64769645cc713b0dae7},
  url = {https://theoremdb.org/statement/?ref=P3112}
}

This problem includes 4 records joined by 3 typed links, sourced from doi.org[1], current as of August 1, 2026.

1References

  1. Packet source. László Babai, “Graph isomorphism in quasipolynomial time [extended abstract]”. Proceedings of the forty-eighth annual ACM symposium on Theory of Computing (2016), 684-697. DOI 10.1145/2897518.2897542. main theorem. preprint · primary source · arXiv:1512.03547, checked 2026-08-01 · checked 2026-08-01Source use: original summary.Gives the exp(polylog n) general algorithm.Also cited at abstract and theorem.Also cited at L. Babai, Graph isomorphism in quasipolynomial time, STOC 2016. main theorem.Durable proceedings record for the current general upper bound.Source used to assess the problem's recorded status.For Is graph isomorphism solvable in polynomial time?: This is the dated publication status for the canonical target Is graph isomorphism solvable in polynomial time?.Source named by the research packet.
  2. Martin Grohe and Daniel Neuen, “Recent Advances on the Graph Isomorphism Problem”. arXiv:2011.01366 (2021). Introduction, pp. 1-2, and concluding open questions. preprint · secondary source · arXiv:2011.01366v2 · checked 2026-08-01Source use: original summary.Surveys the quasipolynomial frontier and explicitly records polynomial-time graph isomorphism as the main open question.

Original TheoremDB editorial statement and source synthesis; external works are used for citation only.

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