operational semantics

theory A set of rules specifying how the state of an actual

or hypothetical computer changes while executing a program.

The overall state is typically divided into a number of

components, e.g. stack, heap, registers etc. Each rule

specifies certain preconditions on the contents of some

components and their new contents after the application of the

rule.

It is similar in spirit to the notion of a Turing machine,

in which actions are precisely described in a mathematical

way.

Compuare axiomatic semantics, denotational semantics.

(1996-08-21)