operational semantics

A Dictionary of Computing | 2004 | 700+ words | Copyright

operational semantics An approach to the semantics of programming languages that uses the concept of an “abstract machine” that has a state and some primitive instructions or rules that cause the states to change. The machine is defined by specifying how the components of the state are changed by each of the instructions or rules. Computations are sequences of state transitions. The abstract machine is not meant to be a model of any realistic machine or machine language; it is meant to be simple enough so that the language can be unambiguously defined by simple rules for state transitions. The semantic description of a programming language specifies a translation into this operational model. Examples of this approach include the Vienna Definition Language used to define PL/I, which was the first method for defining the semantics of a programming language.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JOHN DAINTITH. "operational semantics." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN DAINTITH. "operational semantics." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-operationalsemantics.html

JOHN DAINTITH. "operational semantics." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-operationalsemantics.html

Learn more about citation styles