Part II introduces the details of action notation systematically, explaining the underlying concepts and the intended interpretation of the symbols. It is intended to be read together with Part III, which illustrates the use of action notation in semantic descriptions.

Some of the Appendices provide further details of the foundations of action notation, and summarize the explanations given throughout Part II. Appendix B specifies some algebraic properties of the entire action notation; this also reduces action notation to a reasonably small kernel. Appendix C defines the abstract syntax of the kernel, and gives the formal definition of its meaning, using structural operational semantics. Appendix D summarizes the informal explanations of the full action notation, for convenience of reference. Appendix E gives the complete algebraic specification of the data notation included in action notation.

Navigation

• If this is your first reading, proceed in parallel through Parts II and III: Chapter 4) Chapter 11, Chapter 5, Chapter 12, and so on. This way, you see an illustration of the use of each part of action notation immediately after its introduction

• Alternatively, you could look at each chapter of Part III before the corresponding chapter of Part II. This way, the illustrations in Part III motivate the action notation introduced in Part II.

• If you are revising, and would like an uninterrupted presentation of action notation, proceed straight through Part II.