The research results published in this book range from pure mathematical theory (semigroup theory, discrete mathematics, etc.) to theoretical computer science, in particular formal languages and automata. The papers address issues in the algebraic and combinatorial theories of semigroups, words and languages, the structure theory of automata, the classification theory of formal languages and codes, and applications of these theories to various areas, like quantum and molecular computing, coding theory, and cryptography.

The research results published in this volume range from pure mathematical theory (semigroup theory, discrete mathematics, and so on) to theoretical computer science, in particular formal languages and automata. The papers are the proceedings of the Third International Colloquium on Words, Languages and Combinatorics, and they address issues in the algebraic and combinatorial theories of semigroups, words and languages, the structure theory of automata, the classification theory of formal languages and codes, and applications of these theories to various areas, like quantum and molecular computing, coding theory, and cryptography.

The topics included in this proceedings cover both mathematics and computer science. They include Codes, Free Monoids, Transformation Semigroups, Automata, Formal Languages, Word Problems, Orders and Combinatorics. Attention is paid to the algebraic theories of codes and rewriting systems, which are the key subjects that combine these two fields. The number of papers in the proceedings exceeds 45 and all papers have been refereed.

The research results published in this set of proceedings range from pure semigroup theory to theoretical computer science, in particular formal languages and automata. Contributed by internationally recognized researchers, the papers address issues in the algebraic and combinatorial theories of semigroups, the structure theory of automata, the classification theory of formal languages and codes and applications of these theories to various areas like circuit testing, coding theory, or cryptography. The underlying theme is the semigroup and automaton theories and their role in certain applications.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Combinatorics on Words, WORDS 2017, held in Montréal, QC, Canada, in September 2017. The 21 revised full papers presented together with 5invoted talks were carefully reviewed and selected from 26 submissions. Discrete geometry plays an expanding role in the fields of shape modeling, image synthesis, and image analysis. It deals with topological and geometrical definitions of digitized objects or digitized images and provides both a theoretical and computational framework for computer imaging.

This volume contains one invited lecture which was presented by the 1994 Fields Medal ist Professor E. Zelmanov and twelve other papers which were presented at the Third International Conference on Algebra and Their Related Topics at Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Republic of China, during the period June 26-July 1, 200l. All papers in this volume have been refereed by an international referee board and we would like to express our deepest thanks to all the referees who were so helpful and punctual in submitting their reports. Thanks are also due to the Promotion and Research Center of National Science Council of Republic of China and the Chang Jung Christian University for their generous financial support of this conference. The spirit of this conference is a continuation of the last two International Tainan Moscow Algebra Workshop on Algebras and Their Related Topics which were held in the mid-90's of the last century. The purpose of this very conference was to give a clear picture of the recent development and research in the fields of different kinds of algebras both in Taiwan and in the rest ofthe world, especially say, Russia" Europe, North America and South America. Thus, we were hoping to enhance the possibility of future cooperation in research work among the algebraists ofthe five continents. Here we would like to point out that this algebra gathering will constantly be held in the future in the southern part of Taiwan.