A program analysis which attempts to determine whether
evaluation of a given expression will definitely terminate.
Evaluation of a constant is bound to terminate, as is
evaluation of a non-recursive function applied to arguments
which are either not evaluated or which can themselves be
proved to terminate. A recursive function can be shown to
terminate if it can be shown that the arguments of the
recursive calls are bound to reach some value at which the
recursion will cease.
Termination analysis can never guarantee to give the correct
answer because this would be equivalent to solving the
halting problem so the answer it gives is either "definitely
terminates" or "don't know".
(1994-10-20)
Nearby terms:
terminal server « Terminal User Interface « Terminate and Stay Resident « termination analysis » terminator » term rewriting system » Terms Of Service
