TheIn [[logic]] and [[computer science]], the '''Davis–Putnam algorithm''' was developed by [[Martin Davis (mathematician)|Martin Davis]] and [[Hilary Putnam]] for checking the validity of a [[first-order logic]] formula using a [[Resolution (logic)|resolution]]-based decision procedure for [[propositional logic]]. Since the set of valid first-order formulas is [[recursively enumerable]] but not [[Recursive set|recursive]], there exists no general algorithm to solve this problem. Therefore, the Davis–Putnam algorithm only terminates on valid formulas. Today, the term "Davis–Putnam algorithm" is often used synonymously with the resolution-based propositional decision procedure ('''Davis–Putnam procedure''') that is actually only one of the steps of the original algorithm.
