Cited by 382Logic, programming, and type systemsLogic, Reasoning, and KnowledgeAdvanced Algebra and Logic

A Logic Programming Language with Lambda-Abstraction, Function Variables, and Simple Unification

MILLER, DALE·1991·Journal of Logic and Computation

Abstract

It has been argued elsewhere that a logic programming language with function variables and λ-abstractions within terms makes a good meta-programming language, especially when an object-language contains notions of bound variables and scope. The λProlog logic programming language and the related Elf and Isabelle systems provide meta-programs with both function variables and λ-abstractions by containing implementations of higher order unification. This paper presents a logic programming language, called Lλ, that also contains both function variables and λ-abstractions, although certain restrictions are placed on occurrences of function variables. As a result of these restrictions, an implementation of Lλdoes not need to implement full higher-order unification. Instead, an extension to first-order unification that respects bound variable names and scopes is all that is required. Such unification problems are shown to be decidable and to possess most general unifiers when unifiers exist. A unification algorithm and logic programming interpreter are described and proved correct. Several examples of using Lλ as a meta-programming language are presented.

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Crossref · 10.1093/logcom/1.4.497

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Authors
MILLER, D.
Affiliations
University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
MILLER, DALE
Venue
Journal of Logic and Computation
Published
1991
Volume
1
Issue
4
Pages
497-536
ISSN
  • 0955-792X (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-363X
OpenAlex
W2075352622
Cited by
382
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 7
FWCI
10.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Logic and Computation (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Logic, programming, and type systems
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computational Theory and Mathematics › Advanced Algebra and Logic
Keywords
logic programming, lambda abstraction, higher-order unification, first-order unification, metaprogramming, bound variables, variable scoping, most general unifier, unification algorithms

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