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Z User Workshop, Cambridge 1994 pp 120–138Cite as

Specifying and Interpreting Class Hierarchies in Z

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Part of the book series: Workshops in Computing ((WORKSHOPS COMP.))

Abstract

In a previous article I described how Z could be used to specify certain aspects of object-oriented systems. This paper continues that approach by describing how Z can be used to describe relationships between classes. A Z model of a class hierarchy can be created. Two different but related semantics are given for this model. In the first, extensional, semantics a class is related to the set of object identifiers of objects belonging to the class and inheritance is interpreted as set inclusion. In the second, intensional, semantics a class is related to a definition of the intended behaviour of the class, and inheritance is interpreted as a particular kind of satisfaction relation between behaviour specifications. I give sound (but not complete) conditions for this relation to hold.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Praxis, Bath, UK

    Anthony Hall

Authors
  1. Anthony Hall
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Programming Research Group, Oxford University Computing Laboratory, Wolfson Buliding, Parks Road, OX1 3QD, Oxford, UK

    J. P. Bowen MA

  2. Praxis Systems plc, 20 Manvers Street, BA1 1PX, Bath, UK

    J. A. Hall MA, DPhil, CEng

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© 1994 British Computer Society

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Cite this paper

Hall, A. (1994). Specifying and Interpreting Class Hierarchies in Z. In: Bowen, J.P., Hall, J.A. (eds) Z User Workshop, Cambridge 1994. Workshops in Computing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3452-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3452-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-19884-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3452-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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