What is the purpose of a finite automaton in lexical analysis?

What is the purpose of a finite automaton in lexical analysis?

Step 1: Understand that a finite automaton is a simple machine that can be in one of many states.
Step 2: Recognize that lexical analysis is the process of breaking down text into smaller parts called tokens.
Step 3: Know that tokens are the basic building blocks of programming languages, like keywords, operators, and identifiers.
Step 4: Learn that the finite automaton reads the input stream of text character by character.
Step 5: Realize that as it reads, the finite automaton changes its state based on the characters it sees.
Step 6: Understand that when the finite automaton reaches a certain state, it recognizes a specific pattern or token.
Step 7: Conclude that the purpose of a finite automaton in lexical analysis is to help identify these tokens from the input stream.

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