head normal form

1 definition found

head normal form - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  Head Normal Form
  
     <theory, reduction> (HNF) A term describing a lambda expression
      whose top level is either a variable, a data
     value, a built-in function applied to too few arguments, or a
     lambda abstraction whose body is not reducible.  I.e. the
     top level is neither a redex nor a lambda abstraction with a
     reducible body.
  
     An expression in HNF may contain redexes in argument postions
     whereas a normal form may not.
  
     Compare Weak Head Normal Form.
  
     (2003-01-08)