# Turing completeness

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/turing-completeness
Updated: 2026-09-28

## Definition

the ability of a computer language or system to solve any computational problem that any computer can solve, given enough time and memory.

For teachers: the theoretical capability of a computational system or programming language to simulate any universal Turing machine, meaning it can implement any computable algorithm.

## Examples

- Because Python has Turing completeness, any problem solvable by computers can be programmed in it.
- Researchers proved the Turing completeness of cellular automata like Conway's Game of Life by constructing virtual logic gates.
- Autoregressive transformers coupled with recurrent memory scratchpads achieve practical Turing completeness, enabling arbitrary symbolic program execution.

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