This textbook offers a unified and self-contained introduction to the field of term rewriting. It covers all the basic material (abstract reduction systems, termination, confluence, completion, and combination problems), but also some important and closely connected subjects: universal algebra, unification theory, Gröbner bases and Buchberger's algorithm. The main algorithms are presented both informally and as programs in the functional language Standard ML (an appendix contains a quick and easy introduction to ML). Certain crucial algorithms like unification and congruence closure are covered in more depth and Pascal programs are developed. The book contains many examples and over 170 exercises. This text is also an ideal reference book for professional researchers: results that have been spread over many conference and journal articles are collected together in a unified notation, proofs of almost all theorems are provided, and each chapter closes with a guide to the literature.

Unlike current survey articles and textbooks, here the so-called confluence and termination hierarchies play a key role. Throughout, the relationships between the properties in the hierarchies are reviewed, and it is shown that for every implication X => Y in the hierarchies, the property X is undecidable for all term rewriting systems satisfying Y. Topics covered include: the newest techniques for proving termination of rewrite systems; a comprehensive chapter on conditional term rewriting systems; a state-of-the-art survey of modularity in term rewriting, and a uniform framework for term and graph rewriting, as well as the first result on conditional graph rewriting.

Term rewriting systems developed out of mathematical logic and are an important part of theoretical computer science. They consist of sequences of discrete transformation steps where one term is replaced with another and have applications in many areas, from functional programming to automatic theorem proving and computer algebra. This 2003 book starts at an elementary level with the earlier chapters providing a foundation for the rest of the work. Much of the advanced material appeared here for the first time in book form. Subjects treated include orthogonality, termination, completion, lambda calculus, higher-order rewriting, infinitary rewriting and term graph rewriting. Many exercises are included with selected solutions provided on the web. A comprehensive bibliography makes this book ideal both for teaching and research. A chapter is included presenting applications of term rewriting systems, with many pointers to actual implementations.

Maude is a language and system based on rewriting logic. In this comprehensive account, you’ll discover how Maude and its formal tool environment can be used in three mutually reinforcing ways: as a declarative programming language, as an executable formal specification language, and as a formal verification system. Examples used throughout the book illustrate key concepts, features, and the many practical uses of Maude.

Automated and semi-automated manipulation of so-called labelled transition systems has become an important means in discovering flaws in software and hardware systems. Process algebra has been developed to express such labelled transition systems algebraically, which enhances the ways of manipulation by means of equational logic and term rewriting. The theory of process algebra has developed rapidly over the last twenty years, and verification tools have been developed on the basis of process algebra, often in cooperation with techniques related to model checking. This textbook gives a thorough introduction into the basics of process algebra and its applications.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Rewriting Techniques and Applications, RTA 2005, held in Nara, Japan in April 2005. The 29 revised full papers and 2 systems description papers presented together with 5 invited articles were carefully reviewed and selected from 79 submissions. All current issues in Rewriting are addressed, ranging from foundational and methodological issues to applications in various contexts; due to the fact that the first RTA conference was held 20 years ago, the conference offered 3 invited historical papers 2 of which are included in this proceedings.

Juliet is an author with a deadline. A big deadline...and a ratty old backpack, and she's on her way to Belgium. Mia has a one-way, first class ticket to anywhere. Today anywhere happens to be Scotland. The one thing she knows is that money can't buy happiness, and she has no idea what does. A chance meeting in an airport lounge and a shared flight itinerary leaves Juliet and Mia connected. They've known each other for only twenty-four hours and they are destined for separate countries. How do you forge a future when the past keeps pulling you back?