Semantics encoding: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:00, 8 January 2011

Revision as of 05:34, 29 March 2012

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A '''semantics encoding''' is a translation between [[formal language]]s. For programmers, the most familiar form of encoding is the compilation of a programming language into machine code or byte-code. Conversion between document formats are also forms of encoding. Compilation of [[TeX]] or [[LaTeX]] documents to [[PostScript]] are also commonly encountered encoding processes. Some high-level preprocessors such as [[Objective CamlOCaml]]'s [[Camlp4]] or [[Apple Computer]]'s [[WorldScript]] also involve encoding of a programming language into another.

Formally, an encoding of a language A into language B is a mapping of all terms of A into B. If there is a ''satisfactory'' encoding of A into B, B is considered ''at least as powerful'' (or ''at least as expressive'') as A.