Small-step semantics and observable execution
Research context
postgraduate concept · established · As of 2026-10-10
An operational semantics defines a transition relation between program configurations, including state when needed.
Key knowledge
An operational semantics defines a transition relation between program configurations, including state when needed. A value, a stuck configuration and a computation that diverges are different outcomes. Small-step semantics exposes interleaving and nondeterministic choices that a simple final-value evaluator may hide. A correctness theorem must identify the source language, environment and observations it preserves.
Conditions and scope
- The syntax, configurations, evaluation order and transition rules are fixed before stating a theorem.
- An idealized language model does not automatically cover undefined behavior, hardware faults or an unspecified runtime.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Author checked this English statement, displayed equation where present and stated hypotheses against these source locations: One-step/multistep reduction, values, stuck states and concurrent Imp. The check is bounded to the recorded claims; no complete proof reconstruction, software proof replay or universal literature completeness is claimed.
2026-10-10 · Author source-body/statement/equation/domain check, with graph associations scoped individually. Separate independent content/source/inventory review is required before branch closure.
Entry details
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- research-info-operational-semantics
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- Postgraduate & research reference