Home Computing Dictionaries thesauruses pictures and press releases machine simulation

machine simulation

A Dictionary of Computing
© A Dictionary of Computing 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004.

machine simulation The process whereby one machine M1 can be made to simulate or behave like a second machine M2. There are a number of ways of formalizing simulation for each class of machines. For example, let there be functions g and h that perform encoding and decoding roles respectively: g : M1 → M2, h : M2 → M1

g encodes information for machine M1 and produces corresponding information for machine M2; h is the inverse function. Machine M2 is said to simulate machine M1 if it is possible to specify a translation algorithm such that, when given a program P1 for M1, it produces a corresponding program P2 for M2; further, the effect of P1 on M1 should be equivalent to the effect of

applying function g

then executing P2 on M2

then applying function h.

In symbols, P1 = h P2 g

An equally useful formulation has functions g : M1 → M2, h : M1 → M2

and the simulation criterion h P1 = P2 g

Machine simulation of this kind is generally discussed for idealized abstract machines, such as Turing machines, and for formal models of microprocessors. It provides a useful approach to defining the correctness of implementations. See also machine equivalence.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"machine simulation." A Dictionary of Computing. . Encyclopedia.com. 22 Oct. 2018 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"machine simulation." A Dictionary of Computing. . Encyclopedia.com. (October 22, 2018). http://www.encyclopedia.com/computing/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/machine-simulation

"machine simulation." A Dictionary of Computing. . Retrieved October 22, 2018 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/computing/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/machine-simulation

Learn more about citation styles

Citation styles

Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list.

Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Therefore, it’s best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publication’s requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites:

Modern Language Association

http://www.mla.org/style

The Chicago Manual of Style

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

American Psychological Association

http://apastyle.apa.org/

Notes:
  • Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Refer to each style’s convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates.
  • In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list.