How is a final state depicted in a state machine diagram?

How is a final state depicted in a state machine diagram?

• A. Small, filled-in circle surrounded by a larger circle
• B. Hollow circle
• C. Solid square
• D. Triangle

Answer: (A)

Final or accepting states in a state machine are shown with a double boundary, a visual cue that the machine halts and accepts when it reaches that state. The depiction described— a small inner circle filled in, surrounded by a larger circle— captures this double-boundary idea, signaling that this state is accepting. The outer circle marks the boundary of the state, while the inner filled dot emphasizes its accepting nature. Other shapes or a single hollow circle don’t convey acceptance in the same way. This convention helps distinguish ordinary states from those where the input is considered accepted.

Final or accepting states in a state machine are shown with a double boundary, a visual cue that the machine halts and accepts when it reaches that state. The depiction described— a small inner circle filled in, surrounded by a larger circle— captures this double-boundary idea, signaling that this state is accepting. The outer circle marks the boundary of the state, while the inner filled dot emphasizes its accepting nature. Other shapes or a single hollow circle don’t convey acceptance in the same way. This convention helps distinguish ordinary states from those where the input is considered accepted.