- Allows you to enter any sudoku puzzle, including partially solved ones.
- Solves the sudoku puzzle step by step, by the mean of a "Solve Step" button
- Gives an explanation of the technique that is used at each step, with a graphical illustration. Even the most complex techniques, when required, are illustrated and explained
- Automatically displays and updates all the possible values for cells that are still empty
- Can display cells as A1 - I9 (friendly) or R1C1 - R9C9 (traditional).
- Always chooses the simplest solving technique that can be applied
- Also allows you to get all the hints that are applicable at any stage, and to browse them (see screenshot on the right)
- Allows you to check the validity of a sudoku puzzle (whether it has a unique solution). Note that the Sudoku Explainer will not solve sudoku puzzles with more than one solution.
- Allows you to edit the candidates in empty cells
- Multiple Look & Feels (Usually: System standard, CDE/Motif and Java/Metal)
- Implements the following solving techniques:
- Naked Singles and Hidden Singles
- Direct Pointing, Claiming and Hidden Pairs
- Naked and Hidden Pairs, Triplets and Quads
- Locking, Claiming (intersections), X-Wing, Swordfish and Jellyfish
- XY-Wing and XYZ-Wing
- Unique Rectangles and Loops
- Bivalue Universal Grave
- Aligned Pair Exclusion
- Bidirectional Cycles
- Nishio
- Forcing Chains
- Never uses brute-force
Screenshot of the Sudoku Explainer (click to view full size version)