title: Prefix of a string
body: <blockquote>
    <p>X is a prefix of a string y if there exists xz = y  and x is a proper
    prefix if x is not equal to y.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Just wanted to make sure I understand the concept correctly. </p>
  
  <p>For example, if there is a string y = "abracadabra" does it mean that there are loads of possible prefixes?
  So, if x is a prefix then x can be equal to "a", "ab", "abr"  or even to "abracadabra" but in this case, when x=y, it is now called a not proper prefix as far as I understand. However, I am not really sure about the last part where x=y can it still be considered to be a prefix?</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>A language is prefix-free if no member is a proper-prefix of another
    member.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Again, not sure whether I understand it correctly. 
  If, for example, there is a language = "Hello, World! My name is Andrew" , I think, it is prefix-free since the beginnings of each member are different from each other. However, in case if we have "Hello, World! How are you?" this language is not prefix-free anymore because "H" is a prefix of both "Hello" and "How". Is my way of thinking correct or have I misunderstood something?</p>
  
  <p>No examples given in the book I am reading and it seems to be an easy topic so I guess that might be the reason why I can't find more detailed explanations. But I just, anyway, want to make sure I do not misunderstand anything.</p>
  
  <p>I would be grateful for all the answers. Thank you. </p>