Understanding Z
A Specification Language and its Formal Semantics

This book provides a standard framework for understanding Z specifications.

J. M. Spivey (Author)

9780521054140, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 21 January 2008

140 pages
23.9 x 17 x 0.8 cm, 0.234 kg

"The reader finds a well written book on a special rather technical topic...As such it is valuable for those who seek to understand the language Z in more detail..." Zentralblatt fur Mathematik

The Z notation is a language for expressing mathematical specifications of computing systems. By providing a formal semantics for Z, this book justifies the claim that Z is a precise specification language, and provides a standard framework for understanding Z specifications. Z is compared with other methods such as VDM and CLEAR, and in the final chapter, a number of studies in Z style are presented to show that Z can be used in a wide variety of specification tasks. This book will appeal to those who wish to deepen their understanding of the mathematical background of the Z method, those who want a concise definition of the language, and those interested in the design of specification languages.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Basic concepts
3. The semantics of Z
4. Discussion
5. Studies in Z style
References
Summary of notation
Index of definitions.

Subject Areas: Mathematical theory of computation [UYA], Software Engineering [UMZ], Programming & scripting languages: general [UMX]