Operational Semantics
Operational semantics is a formal method in computer science and programming language theory that describes the behavior of a programming language or system by specifying how its constructs execute step-by-step on an abstract machine. It defines the meaning of programs through rules that map program states to subsequent states, often using inference rules or transition systems. This approach is widely used to reason about program correctness, compiler design, and language implementation.
Developers should learn operational semantics when working on language design, compiler development, or formal verification, as it provides a rigorous foundation for understanding and specifying how code executes. It is essential for ensuring that language implementations are correct and for analyzing complex systems like concurrent or distributed programs, where precise behavior modeling is critical. Use cases include designing new programming languages, optimizing compilers, and proving safety properties in critical software.