formal methods

1 definition found

formal methods - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  formal methods
  
     <mathematics, specification> Mathematically based techniques
     for the specification, development and verification of
     software and hardware systems.
  
     Referentially transparent languages are amenable to symbolic
     manipulation allowing program transformation (e.g. changing
     a clear inefficient specification into an obscure but
     efficient program) and proof of correctness.
  
     Oxford FM archive (http://comlab.ox.ac.uk/archive/formal-methods.html)
     .
  
     (1996-05-15)