What is the difference between a deterministic and non-deterministic automaton?

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What is the difference between a deterministic and non-deterministic automaton?

A deterministic automaton is a type of automaton where for every input symbol, there is exactly one transition defined from each state. In other words, the behavior of a deterministic automaton is completely determined by its current state and the input symbol being read. It follows a unique path through its states for any given input.

On the other hand, a non-deterministic automaton is a type of automaton where for some input symbols, there can be multiple transitions defined from a state. This means that the behavior of a non-deterministic automaton is not uniquely determined by its current state and the input symbol being read. It can have multiple possible paths through its states for a given input.

In summary, the main difference between a deterministic and non-deterministic automaton lies in the number of transitions defined from each state for a given input symbol. Deterministic automata have exactly one transition, while non-deterministic automata can have multiple transitions.