Difference between revisions of "Halting problem"
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In [[computability theory]], the '''halting problem''' is the problem of determining, from a description of an arbitrary [[computer program]] and an input, whether the program will finish running or continue to run forever. | In [[computability theory]], the '''halting problem''' is the problem of determining, from a description of an arbitrary [[computer program]] and an input, whether the program will finish running or continue to run forever. | ||
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
Revision as of 11:19, 4 February 2016
In computability theory, the halting problem is the problem of determining, from a description of an arbitrary computer program and an input, whether the program will finish running or continue to run forever.
Description
Alan Turing proved in 1936 that a general algorithm to solve the halting problem for all possible program-input pairs cannot exist.
A key part of the proof was a mathematical definition of a computer and program, which became known as a Turing machine; the halting problem is undecidable over Turing machines.
It is one of the first examples of a decision problem.
Jack Copeland (2004) attributes the term halting problem to Martin Davis.
See also
External links
- Halting problem @ Wikipedia
