2016 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
19. Z Formal Specification Language
Published in:
Guide to Discrete Mathematics
Abstract
Chapter 19 presents the Z specification language, which is one of the most widely used formal methods. Z is a formal specification language based on Zermelo set theory. It was developed at the Programming Research Group at Oxford University in the early 1980s. Z specifications are mathematical and employ a classical two-valued logic. The use of mathematics ensures precision, and allows inconsistencies and gaps in the specification to be identified. Theorem provers may be employed to demonstrate that the software implementation meets its specification.