Formal methods

In computer science, specifically software engineering and hardware engineering, formal methods are a particular kind of mathematically based techniques for the specification, development and formal verification of software and hardware systems.

Description

The use of formal methods for software and hardware design is motivated by the expectation that, as in other engineering disciplines, performing appropriate mathematical analysis can contribute to the reliability and robustness of a design. See Quality control.

Interdisciplinary principles

Formal methods draw upon interdisciplinary principles from many fields, including:

• Theoretical computer science
• Logical calculus - see Logic in computer science
• Formal language
• Automata theory
• Program semantics
• Type systems
• Algebraic data types

See also

• Computer science
• Formal verification
• Hardware engineering
• Mathematics
• Quality controll
• Software engineering

External links

• Formal methods @ Wikipedia