Abstract
This paper discusses the problem of providing a definition for the "GOTO" statement within the framework of denotational semantics. The accepted approach to the problem is to use "Continuations". An alternative "Exit Formulation" is described in this paper. A small language is introduced which illustrates the difficulties caused by statements which terminate abnormally. For this language definitions based on both approaches are provided. A proof of equivalence of the two definitions is then given. In a closing discussion it is pointed out that continuations can define a wider class of languages than exits, although the latter have been shown to be adequate to define languages as complex as PL/I.
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© 1978 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
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Jones, C.B. (1978). Denotational semantics of goto: An exit formulation and its relation to continuations. In: Bjørner, D., Jones, C.B. (eds) The Vienna Development Method: The Meta-Language. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 61. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-08766-4_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-08766-4_11
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