A finite máquina de estados (FSM) is a modelo matemático of computation that represents a system as a collection of states, transitions between those states, and actions. An FSM can be in one state at a time and changes states based on input signals or events. This model is widely used in ciencias de la computación y ingeniería para diseñar tanto sistemas de hardware como de software.
En una FSM, la states represent specific conditions or situations of the system, while the transitions indicate how the system moves from one state to another in response to inputs. Each transition can be triggered by specific events or conditions. There are two main types of finite state machines: autómatas finitos deterministas (DFA), where each state has exactly one transition for each possible input, and autómatas finitos no deterministas (NFA), where a state can have multiple transitions for a single input.
FSMs are commonly utilized in various applications, including digital circuit design, protocol design, parsing, and even in AI for modeling behaviors and decision-making processes. They provide a clear and structured way to represent sistemas complejos, making it easier to analyze and understand their behavior.
In summary, finite state machines are essential tools for modeling systems with a finite number of states, allowing designers and engineers to create efficient and reliable algorithms y sistemas.