Introduction

Programming Theory. The field of study dealing with programs and programming languages in theoretical computer science is usually referred to as programming theory, or the theory of programs. This field essentially deals with the formal investigation of the world of programs, including characterization of programs, description of program properties and checking whether a given program satisfies certain properties. In order to support this investigation, programming theory attempts essentially to provide an appropriate mathematical foundation. This theory also attempts to provide appropriate, theoretically well based methods and tools to support practical applications, e.g. in the field of program specification and verification and also in program design and in programming language development.