Skip to main content

An Introduction to the Lambda Calculus

  • Chapter
Central European Functional Programming School (CEFP 2007)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNTCS,volume 5161))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Lambda calculus (λ-calculus) is one of the most well-known formal models of computer science. It is the basis for functional programming like Turing machines are the foundation of imperative programming. These two systems are equivalent and both can be used to formulate and investigate fundamental questions about solvability and computability.

First, we introduce the reader to the basics of λ-calculus: its syntax and transformation rules. We discuss the most important properties of the system related to normal forms of λ-expressions. We present the recursive version of λ-calculus and finally give the classical results that establish the link between λ-calculus, partial recursive functions and Turing machines.

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Barendregt, H.P.: The Lambda Calculus, Its Syntax and Semantics. North Holland, Amsterdam (1984)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Bird, R., Wadler, P.: Introduction to Functional Programming. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Church, A.: A set of postulates for the foundation of logic. Annals of Math. 33, 34, 346–366, 839–864 (1932/1933)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Csörnyei, Z.: Lambda-kalkulus (in Hungarian). Typotex (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Curry, H.B.: Functionality in combinatory logic. Proc. Nat. Acad. Science USA 20, 584–590 (1934)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Felleisen, M., Flatt, M.: Programming Languages and Lambda Calculi. Course Notes, Utah University (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Goldberg, M.: An Introduction to the Lambda Calculus. Course Notes. Ben-Gurion University (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hankin, C.: Introduction to Lambda Calculi for Computer Scientists. Imperial College London (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Harrison, J.: Introduction to Functional Programming. Course Notes. University of Cambridge (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hindley, J.R., Seldin, J.P.: Introduction to Combinators and ≪-Calculus. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ker, A.D.: Lambda Calculus. Course Notes. Oxford University, Oxford (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Kleene, S.C., Rosser, J.B.: The inconsistency of certain formal logics. Annals of Math. 36, 630–636 (1936)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  13. Kleene, S.C.: λ-definability and recursiveness. Duke Math. J. 2, 340–353 (1936)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. Kluge, W.: Abstract Computing Machines. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Mitchell, J.C.: Foundations for Programming Languages. MIT Press, Cambridge (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ong, C.-H.L.: Lambda Calculus. Course Notes. Oxford University, Oxford (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Paulson, L.C.: Foundations of Functional Programming. Course Notes. University of Cambridge (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Pierce, B.C.: Types and Programming Languages. MIT Press, Cambridge (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pierce, B.C. (ed.): Advanced Topics in Types and Programming Languages. MIT Press, Cambridge (2005)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  20. Plasmeijer, R., van Eekelen, M.: Functional Programming and Parallel Graph Rewriting. Addison-Wesley, Reading (1993)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  21. Roversi, L.: λ-calculus as a Programming Language. Course Notes. Università di Torino (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Schönfinkel, M.: Über die bausteine der mathematischen logik. Math. Annalen 92, 305–316 (1924)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  23. Turing, A.M.: Computability and λ-definability. J. Symbolic Logic 2, 153–163 (1937)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Csörnyei, Z., Dévai, G. (2008). An Introduction to the Lambda Calculus. In: Horváth, Z., Plasmeijer, R., Soós, A., Zsók, V. (eds) Central European Functional Programming School. CEFP 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 5161. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88059-2_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-88059-2_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-88058-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-88059-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics