abstract machines
An abstract machine is a theoretical model that describes how a computational process operates without focusing on the physical implementation. It provides a framework for understanding algorithms and computation by defining states, transitions, and rules. Common examples include the Turing machine, which helps in studying the limits of what can be computed.
These models are essential in computer science for analyzing the efficiency and complexity of algorithms. They allow researchers to explore concepts like finite state machines and pushdown automata, which are used in programming languages and automata theory. Abstract machines help bridge the gap between theory and practical applications in computing.