(definition)
Definition: A language for which membership can be decided by an algorithm that halts on all inputs in a finite number of steps --- equivalently, can be recognized by a Turing machine that halts for all inputs.
Also known as recursive language, totally decidable language.
See also undecidable language, decidable problem, recursively enumerable language.
Note: For emphasis, the equivalent term totally decidable language is sometimes used. From Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, page 24-19, Copyright © 1999 by CRC Press LLC. Appearing in the Dictionary of Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Copyright © 2000 CRC Press LLC.
Author: CRC-A
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul Black.
Entry modified 9 August 2004.
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Cite this as:
Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 1999, "decidable language", in
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 9 August 2004. (accessed TODAY)
Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/decidableLanguage.html