Algebraic specifications of computable and semicomputable data types (Q1098613)

The authors of this paper are well known contributors in the theory of the abstract data types. This paper is an extensive survey of various specification mechanisms based on initial algebra semantics. The mathematical basis of the algebraic approach to data type specification is reviewed. A proper mathematical analysis and classification of the algebraic specification methods are given. The equational and conditional equational specifications, with and without hidden functions or hidden sorts are described.