Order-sorted algebra solves the constructor-selector, multiple representation, and coercion problems
type: Item
instance of: scholarly article
title: Order-sorted algebra solves the constructor-selector, multiple representation, and coercion problems
zbMATH Open document ID: 0796.68144
author: José Meseguer
author: Joseph Goguen
published in: Information and Computation
publication date: 1993-06-29T00:00:00Z
review text: The many-sorted algebra approach to abstract data types has difficulties in handling erroneous expressions, such as dividing by zero, taking the top of an empty stack, etc. Another problem is data representation in more than one way and conversion (coercion) between different representations. Those problems may be solved using the approach of order-sorted algebra, originally introduced by the authors [Theor. Comput. Sci. 105, 217-273 (1992; Zbl 0778.68056)]. The essence of order- sorted algebra is that sorts have suborts, semantically interpreted as subsets among the carriers of an algebra. It is shown how this algebra generalizes the usual many-sorted algebra and how it permits an elegant solution to the constructor-selector problem, which cannot be satisfactory solved in many-sorted algebra. The theoretical considerations are illustrated by examples using a syntax based on the OBJ language.
Mathematics Subject Classification ID: 68Q65
zbMATH DE Number: 221546
zbMATH Keywords: many-sorted algebra
zbMATH Keywords: abstract data types
zbMATH Keywords: order-sorted algebra
MaRDI profile type: Publication
OpenAlex ID: W2073492176
DOI: 10.1006/INCO.1993.1016
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description: scientific article; zbMATH DE number 221546