What does NFA mean in COMPUTING

A Non-deterministic Finite Automaton (NFA) is a computational model, similar to the Deterministic Finite Automaton(DFA), that recognizes patterns of strings using transition functions. The difference being that an NFA can have multiple next states for each current state and input symbol.

An NFA is capable of performing computations related to pattern recognition, language recognition and regular expressions. Furthermore, it can work on input strings consisting of finite sequence of symbols belonging to either a certain set of symbols or an alphabet.

Unlike a Deterministic Finite Automaton (DFA), the NFA allows multiple transitions from each state and has more than one move per character. It allows for empty moves which are triggered when there is no possible transition from the current state associated with the current input character. Additionally, NFAs do not require that all possible transitions from any given state are specified in advance.

An NFA machine consists of five basic components; states, alphabet, start state, final states and transition function. The transition function maps from a current state and a given symbol in the alphabet to one or more next states that form the basis for computation within the automata.

An NFA can recognize up to four types of languages; regular language which consists of finite words over some alphabet, context-free language which consists of finite words over some alphabet with specific rules for generating strings such as grammar rules, context-sensitive language which consists of finite words over some alphabet with rules which apply only when two sequences match at least partially in order to generate new sequences,and unrestricted grammar which consists finite words over some alphabet with unrestricted searching power.

Yes. While DFAs are limited in only recognizing regular language sets, NFAs are capable recognizing all four types of languages mentioned above; regular language sets as well as context-free languages, context sensitive languages and unrestricted grammar sets.

Converting an Nfa into its equivalent Dfa graphically involves constructing a flow chart based on the set transitions involved with respect to both current states and their corresponding next states, then mapping out each individual section using piecewise branches on either side indicating ‘yes’ transitions or ‘no’ transitions depending on whether or not there is a transition associated with the input character. Finally construct arrows between them representing paths taken if certain conditions are true or false accordingly.