Are DFAs unique?

For a given regular is expression, once we construct a deterministic finite automaton: is that automaton unique for that expression? In a sense, that no other DFA (different number of vertices or transitions) can be constructed from that same regular expression.

For every regular language there are infinitely many DFAs accepting the language. You can always add dummy states not reachable from the initial state, for example.

However, there is a unique DFA which has the minimum number of states, called the minimal automaton (or some such name). This is part of Myhill–Nerode theory.

StackExchange Computer Science Q#67840, answer score: 12