{"id":6585,"date":"2026-03-12T19:03:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:33:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/?p=6585"},"modified":"2026-03-12T19:03:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:33:36","slug":"what-is-theory-of-computation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/cs-it\/what-is-theory-of-computation","title":{"rendered":"What is Theory of Computation?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Theory of computation deals with the automata theory and formal languages. It is the study of \u201c<strong>Abstract Model of Computation<\/strong>\u201d. This subject helps to solve various problems using the following modes.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Finite Automata<\/li>\n<li>Push Down Automata<\/li>\n<li>Linear Bound Automata<\/li>\n<li>Turning Machine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It is very important for every computer programmer to know what the problems that can be solved are and what can\u2019t be solved. Theory of computation explains the capabilities and limitations of computation.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The theory of computation is an important subject for GATE aspirants in the computer science\/IT stream. Candidates who want to prepare this subject thoroughly can refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MADE EASY Courses<\/a> for complete preparation.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tableContent\">\n<h4>Key Points<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/finite-automata\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Finite Automata<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/deterministic-finite-automata-dfa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA)<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/regular-expressions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Regular Expressions<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/context-free-grammar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Context Free Grammar<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/leftmost-and-rightmost-derivations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Leftmost and Rightmost Derivations<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/chomsky-normal-form-cnf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Chomsky Normal Form (CNF)<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/greibach-normal-form-gnf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Greibach Normal Form (GNF)<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/study.madeeasy.in\/cs-it\/turing-machine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Turing Machine<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Why Theory of Computation is Important for Engineers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Theory of Computation is very important for engineers because it helps programmers understand which types of problems can be solved by computers and which cannot.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It also provides a strong foundation for abstract areas of computer science by defining the fundamental capabilities, limitations, and efficiency of computational models.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Core Topics in Theory of Computation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>From GATE\/PSU exam point of view some important topics in Theory of Computation are:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Grammars, Languages and Automata<\/li>\n<li>Regular Languages and Finite Automata<\/li>\n<li>Context Free Languages and Push Down Automata<\/li>\n<li>REC, RE languages and Turing Machines Decidability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>How to Prepare Theory of Computation for GATE &amp; PSU<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Below we are providing some tips which can help aspirants to prepare Theory of Computation for GATE and PSU.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Understand the syllabus.<\/li>\n<li>Develop conceptual understanding.<\/li>\n<li>Follow the right study order<\/li>\n<li>Practice questions from <a href=\"https:\/\/madeeasypublications.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MADE EASY books<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Prepare short notes<\/li>\n<li>Practice previous year questions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Mistakes to Avoid While Studying TOC<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Some common mistakes which aspirants should avoid while studying TOC are:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Focussing on memorizing the concepts instead of understanding them.<\/li>\n<li>Ignoring the basics.<\/li>\n<li>Not practicing GATE level questions<\/li>\n<li>Not attempting test series.<\/li>\n<li>Not revising properly.<\/li>\n<li>Not preparing short notes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>How Structured Coaching Helps in TOC Preparation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Theory of Computation (TOC)<\/strong> is highly conceptual subject for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/exams\/gate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GATE<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/exams\/psus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PSU exam<\/a>. With the help of coaching, aspirants prepare TOC in a structured and easy way. Let us look how coaching helps in preparing TOC.<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Provides a structured method of preparation.<\/li>\n<li>Break down complex topics in easy to understand manner.<\/li>\n<li>Focus upon exam point of view.<\/li>\n<li>Focus on question practice through assignment and test.<\/li>\n<li>Mock test and performance analysis.<\/li>\n<li>Doubt resolution and guidance.<\/li>\n<li>Helps in time management and discipline.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Online Courses for Computer Science &amp; Information Technology<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>If you want to learn about TOC through an online course, click on the links given below:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasyprime.com\/ese-gate-tablet-courses?_gl=1*1q1xlqf*_gcl_au*MTIwNjU2NDg3MS4xNzY1ODg4OTg0*_ga*MTY0NDMzMjE1MC4xNzE3ODQyMDEz*_ga_L19Q5F5N58*czE3NzMxNTA2ODQkbzkzJGcxJHQxNzczMTUxMTk3JGo0MiRsMCRoNDUyOTk4NzQ3JGQ5ZmZWZGlYT0lpVVpoWXNUcU42RUhXSGRGcVBsWmNIeTdn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Tablet course<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasyprime.com\/ese-gate-ses-recorded-video-courses?_gl=1*14f22qu*_gcl_au*MTIwNjU2NDg3MS4xNzY1ODg4OTg0*_ga*MTY0NDMzMjE1MC4xNzE3ODQyMDEz*_ga_L19Q5F5N58*czE3NzMxNTA2ODQkbzkzJGcxJHQxNzczMTUxMjE5JGoyMCRsMCRoNDUyOTk4NzQ3JGQ5ZmZWZGlYT0lpVVpoWXNUcU42RUhXSGRGcVBsWmNIeTdn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Recorded course<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.madeeasyprime.com\/live-online-courses-gate-ses-exams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Online course<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nptel.ac.in\/courses\/106104028\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>NPTEL COURSE 1<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nptel.ac.in\/courses\/106104148\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>NPTEL COURSE 2<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nptel.ac.in\/courses\/106106242\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><strong>NPTEL COURSE 3<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Recommended Books for Computer Science &amp; Information Technology<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Buy books online for CS in which you can read TOC in detail.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/madeeasypublications.org\/postal\/home\/postal-study-package.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">POSTAL BOOKS PACKAGE for ESE, GATE, PSUs, SSC-JE, UPPSC-AE, OPSC<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>FAQs:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4>1. Is TOC important for GATE CS?<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Yes, TOC is important for GATE CS aspirants.<\/p>\n<h4>2. How much time should be given to TOC?<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> The time for preparing a TOC varies from aspirant to aspirant. If someone feels their basics are weak, then they should spend more time, and if someone is comfortable in all the concepts, then the time for preparing TOC should be less.<\/p>\n<h4>3. Can TOC be prepared without coaching?<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Answer:<\/strong> Yes, if the candidate has strong basics and he\/she understand all the concepts by self-studying then TOC can be prepared without coaching, however good coaching institutes like MADE EASY provides a structured way of learning which makes preparing TOC easier.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">As mentioned above, TOC, or Theory of Computation, is an important subject for programmers as it filters out the solvable and unsolvable problems.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The best way to master TOC is to strengthen the concepts and practice consistently. Aspirants should build strong fundamentals in order to excel in this subject.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Theory of computation deals with the automata theory and formal languages. It is the study of \u201cAbstract Model of Computation\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,3,1930],"tags":[1957,1959,1953,1954,1956,1955,1958],"class_list":["post-6585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-subjects","category-cs-it","category-computation","tag-automata-theory","tag-gate-computer-science-toc","tag-theory-of-computation","tag-theory-of-computation-for-gate","tag-theory-of-computation-for-psu-exams","tag-toc-for-gate-cs","tag-turing-machine-concepts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.madeeasy.in\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}