What is finite automata?

Finite automata is an abstract computing device. It is a mathematical model of a system with discrete inputs, outputs, states and a set of transitions from state to state that occurs on input symbols from the alphabet Σ.

Finite Automata Representation

The finite automata can be represented in three ways, as given below −

• Graphical (Transition diagram)
• Tabular (Transition table)
• Mathematical (Transition function)

Formal definition of Finite Automata

Finite automata is defined as a 5-tuples

M=(Q, Σ, δ,q0,F)

Where,

• Q: Finite set called states.
• Σ: Finite set called alphabets.
• δ: Q × Σ → Q is the transition function.
• q0 ∈ Q is the start or initial state.
• F: Final or accept state.

Finite Automata can be represented as follows −

• Transition diagram
• Transition table
• Transition function

Transition Diagram

It is a directed graph associated with the vertices of the graph corresponding to the state of finite automata.

An example of transition diagram is given below −

Here,

• {0,1}: Inputs
• q1: Initial state
• q2: Intermediate state
• qf: Final state

Transition table

It is basically a tabular representation of the transition function that takes two arguments (a state & a symbol) and returns a value (the ‘next state’).

δ : Q × Σ → Q

In transition table, the following factors are considered −

• Rows correspond to state.
• Column corresponds to the input symbol.
• Entries correspond to the next state.
• The start state is marked with ->.
• The accept state marked with *.

An example of transition table is as follows −

The transition table is as follows −

Transition function

The transition function is denoted by δ. The two parameters mentioned below are the passes to this transition function.

• Current state
• Input symbol

The transition function returns a state which can be called as the next state.

δ (current_state, current_input_symbol) = next_state

For example, δ(q0,a)=q1