Skip to main content

Formal Methods

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Innovation in Computing Companion
  • 1791 Accesses

Abstract

Formal methods are an innovative technology used in the development of safety-critical software. The term “formal methods” refers to various mathematical techniques used for the formal specification and development of software. They consist of a formal specification language and employ a collection of tools to support the syntax checking of the specification, as well as the proof of properties of the specification. They allow questions to be asked about what the system does independently of its implementation. The use of formal methods leads to increased confidence in the correctness of the software.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Brown MJD (1990) Rationale for the development of the UK defence standards for safety critical computer software. Proc. COMPASS ‘90, Washington DC, USA, June 1990

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinchey M, Bowen J (eds) (1995) Applications of formal methods, Prentice Hall international series in computer science. Prentice Hall, London/New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • O’Regan G (2017b) Concise guide to formal methods. Springer, Cham

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

O’Regan, G. (2018). Formal Methods. In: The Innovation in Computing Companion. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02619-6_27

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-02619-6_27

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-02618-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-02619-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics