[1] : The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03)

abstract interpretation
     
         a partial execution of a program which gains
        information about its semantics e.g. control structure,
        flow of information without performing all the calculations.
        abstract interpretation is typically used by compilers to
        analyse programs in order to decide whether certain
        optimisations or transformations are applicable.
     
        the objects manipulated by the program typically values and
        functions are represented by points in some domain.  each
        abstract domain point represents some set of real
        "concrete" values.
     
        for example, we may take the abstract points "+", "0" and "-"
        to represent positive, zero and negative numbers and then
        define an abstract version of the multiplication operator, ,
        which operates on abstract values:
     
        	 | + 0 -
        	---|------
        	+  | + 0 -
        	0  | 0 0 0
        	-  | - 0 +
     
        an interpretation is "safe" if the result of the abstract
        operation is a safe approximation to the abstraction of the
        concrete result.  the meaning of "a safe approximation"
        depends on how we are using the results of the analysis.
     
        if, in our example, we assume that smaller values are safer
        then the "safety condition" for our interpretation  is
     
        	a  b <= a  b
     
        where a is the abstract version of a etc.
     
        in general an interpretation is characterised by the domains
        used to represent the basic types and the abstract values it
        assigns to constants where the constants of a language
        include primitive functions such as .  the interpretation of
        constructed types such as user defined functions, sum types
        and product types and expressions can be derived
        systematically from these basic domains and values.
     
        a common use of abstract interpretation is strictness
        analysis.
     
        see also standard interpretation.
     
        1994-11-08
     
     
see also:
semantics domain concrete sum type product type abstract interpretation 
strictness analysis standard interpretation 

Abstract >> A Words
Abstract, definition of term: Abstract
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Interpretation >> I Words
Interpretation, definition of term: Interpretation
interpretation_pag1.html

Abstract Terms >> A Words
Abstract Terms, definition of term: Abstract Terms
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Abstract Though >> A Words
Abstract Though, definition of term: Abstract Though
abstract+though_pag1.html

Abstract Machin >> A Words
Abstract Machin, definition of term: Abstract Machin
abstract+machin_pag1.html

Abstract Art >> A Words
Abstract Art, definition of term: Abstract Art
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Abstract Expres >> A Words
Abstract Expres, definition of term: Abstract Expres
abstract+expres_pag1.html

Abstract Of Tit >> A Words
Abstract Of Tit, definition of term: Abstract Of Tit
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Abstract Data T >> A Words
Abstract Data T, definition of term: Abstract Data T
abstract+data+t_pag1.html