Abstract
Multilevel arrays have been used in the VDL and VDM projects for representing abstract syntax trees. In the same way as the function type can be seen as a generalization of the array type, it is possible to generalize multilevel arrays to multilevel functions. They are general trees with finite depth but arbitrary branching. In this paper, a definition of multilevel functions is given in the framework of Martin-Löf's type theory. The formal rules associated with the new data type is given and justified using the semantics of type theory. The paper contains some programs for manipulating the functions and some data types (vectors, natural numbers, lists, binary trees and functions) are seen as special cases of multilevel functions.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
9. References
J. A. Bergstra, H. J. M. Goeman, A. Ollongren, G. A. Terpstra, and Th. P. van der Weide, "Axioms for Multilevel Objects", Annales Societatis Mathematicae Polonae, Series IV: Fundamenta Informaticae, Vol. III.2, pp. 171–180 (1979).
P. Martin-Löf, "Constructive Mathematics and Computer Programming", pp. 153–175 in Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science, VI, North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam (1982), Proceedings of the 6th International Congress, Hannover, 1979.
B. Nordström and K. Petersson, "Types and Specifications", pp. 915–920 in Proceedings IFIP '83, Paris, ed. R. E. A. Mason, Elsevier Science Publishers (North-Holland), Amsterdam (1983).
B. Nordström and J. Smith, "Propositions, Types and Specifications of Programs in Martin-Löf's Type Theory", BIT, Vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 288–301 (October 1984).
B. Nordström, K. Petersson, and J. Smith, An Introduction to Type Theory, Programming Methodology Group, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg (1985), In preparation.
A. Ollongren, Definition of Programming Languages by Interpreting Automata, Academic Press APIC Series No II (1974).
A. L. Rosenberg and J. E. Thatcher, "What is a multilevel array?", IBM Journal of Research and Development, Vol. 19, pp. 163–169 (1975).
P. Wegner, "The Vienna Definition Language", Computing Surveys, 1972.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1986 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Nordström, B. (1986). Multilevel functions in Martin-Löf's type theory. In: Ganzinger, H., Jones, N.D. (eds) Programs as Data Objects. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 217. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-16446-4_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-16446-4_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-16446-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-39786-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive