In mathematics, a rational monoid is a monoid, an algebraic structure, for which each element can be represented in a "normal form" that can be computed by a finite transducer: multiplication in such a monoid is "easy", in the sense that it can be described by a rational function.
Let φ be the map from the free monoid A∗ to M given by evaluating a string as a product in M. We say that L is a rational cross-section if φ induces a bijection between L and M. We say that (A,L) is a rational structure for M if in addition the kernel of φ, viewed as a subset of the product monoid A∗×A∗ is a rational set.
The Green's relations for a rational monoid satisfy D = J.
A rational monoid is not necessarily automatic, and vice versa.
However, a rational monoid is asynchronously automatic and hyperbolic.