Final answer:
To highlight the shortest path in Dijkstra's algorithm on a GUI, maintain a predecessor array while running the algorithm, backtrack from the destination node using this array, and visually change properties of the path components on the graph.
Step-by-step explanation:
To highlight the shortest path in Dijkstra's algorithm implementation using a GUI, you need to track the path from the start node to the destination node. When Dijkstra's algorithm is run, along with updating the distances, maintains a predecessor array that records the previous node on the path for each node. Once the algorithm finishes, you can backtrack from the destination node using the predecessor array to reveal the shortest path.
Create a visual representation of the graph in the GUI and use this predecessor information to highlight the path on the graph. For example, this could be done by changing the color of the edges and nodes that are part of the shortest path or overlaying an arrowed line tracing the path from source to destination.
To make it user-friendly, provide controls that allow the user to select the start and end nodes and then a button to execute Dijkstra's algorithm. After the path has been found, clearly display the path either in a list that shows the order of nodes or visually on the graph itself.