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The Qu-Prolog unification algorithm: formalisation and correctness. (English) Zbl 0874.68134
Summary: Qu-Prolog is an extension of Prolog which performs meta-level computations over object languages, such as predicate calculi and $$\lambda$$-calculi, which have object-level variables, and quantifier or binding symbols creating local scopes for those variables. As in Prolog, the instantiable (meta-level) variables of Qu-Prolog range over object-level terms, and in addition other Qu-Prolog syntax denotes the various components of the object-level syntax, including object-level variables. Further, the meta-level operation of substitution into object-level terms is directly represented by appropriate Qu-Prolog syntax. Again as in Prolog, the driving mechanism in Qu-Prolog computation is a form of unification, but this is substantially more complex than for Prolog because of Qu-Prolog’s greater generality, and especially because substitution operations are evaluated during unification. The Qu-Prolog unification algorithm is specified, formalised and proved correct. Further, the analysis of the algorithm is carried out in a framework which straightforwardly allows the ‘completeness’ of the algorithm to be proved: though fully explicit answers to unification problems are not always provided, no information is lost in the unification process.

##### MSC:
 68W10 Parallel algorithms in computer science
Qu-Prolog
Full Text:
##### References:
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