Z notation
The
Z notation (universally pronounced
zed, named after
Zermelo-Fränkel set theory) is a formal
specification language used for describing and modelling computing systems. It is targeted at the clear specification of
computer programs and the formulation of proofs about the intended program behavior.
Z was developed by the
Programming Research Group at
Oxford University in the late 1970s and is based on the standard mathematical notation used in
axiomatic set theory,
lambda calculus, and
first-order predicate logic. All expressions in Z notation are typed, thereby avoiding some of the
paradoxes of
naive set theory. Z contains a standardized catalog (called the
mathematical toolkit) of commonly used mathematical functions and predicates.
Although Z notation uses many non-
ASCII symbols, the specification includes suggestions for rendering the Z notation symbols in
ASCII and in
LaTeX.
A valuable resource for newcomers interested in learning Z is
The Z Notation: a reference manual.
Z notation was used in the
IBM CICS project.
The
ISO completed a Z standardization effort in 2002. This standard, entitled
Information Technology – Z Formal Specification Notation – Syntax, Type System and Semantics, ISO/IEC 13568:2002, can be obtained directly from ISO.
13568_2002.zip, 1 MB PDF, 196 pages
*
Z++*
Object-Z*
Z User Group (ZUG)
*
Community Z Tools (CZT) project
*
Formal methods*
B-Method*
The Z Notation: a reference manual*
Jonathan Bowen's The Z notation*
Specification proposals by Ian Toyn*
Suppliers of the ISO formal specification*
Community Z Tools (CZT) project*
ZETA open-source system for development software specifications in Z*
Mike Spivey's Fuzz Type-Checker for Z*
Using Z: Specification, Refinement, and Proof (Include a PDF book)
