In theoretical computer science and formal language theory, a regular language is a formal language that can be expressed using a regular expression. Note that the "regular expression" features provided with many programming languages are augmented with features that make them capable of recognizing languages that can not be expressed by the formal regular expressions (as formally defined below).
In the Chomsky hierarchy, regular languages are defined to be the languages that are generated by Type-3 grammars (regular grammars). Regular languages are very useful in input parsing and programming language design.
Read more about Regular Language: Formal Definition, Equivalence To Other Formalisms, Closure Properties, Deciding Whether A Language Is Regular, Complexity Results, Subclasses, The Number of Words in A Regular Language, Generalizations
Famous quotes containing the words regular and/or language:
“While you’re playing cards with a regular guy or having a bite to eat with him, he seems a peaceable, good-humoured and not entirely dense person. But just begin a conversation with him about something inedible, politics or science, for instance, and he ends up in a deadend or starts in on such an obtuse and base philosophy that you can only wave your hand and leave.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“Consensus is usually made possible by vague language and shallow commitments.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)