Invariant Assertions, Invariant Relations, and Invariant Functions Olfa Mraihi, Asma Louhichi, Lamia Labed Jilani, Jules Desharnais and Ali Mili Institut Superieur de Gestion, Tunis, Tunisia Faculte des Sciences de Tunis, El Manar, Tunisia Laval University, Quebec City, Canada NJIT, Newark NJ, USA
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[email protected] May 1, 2012 Abstract Invariant assertions play an important role in the analysis and documentation of while loops of imperative programs. Invariant functions and invariant relations are alternative analysis tools that are distinct from invariant assertions but are related to them. In this paper we discuss these three concepts and analyze their relationships. The study of invariant functions and invariant relations is interesting not only because it provides alternative means to analyze loops, but also because it gives us insights into the structure of invariant assertions, hence may help us enhance techniques for generating invariant assertions. Keywords Invariant assertions, invariant functions, invariant relations, loop invariants, program analysis, pro- gram verification, while loops, loop functions. 1 Introduction In [31], Hoare introduced invariant assertions as a key concept in the analysis of while loops. The study of invariant assertions, and more broadly the functional analysis of programs, have been the focus of active research in the seventies and eighties, and the subject of renewed interest in the last few years [1, 6, 7, 9, 20, 23, 37, 39, 40, 61]. In this paper we wish to investigate the relationships between this well known, thoroughly researched, concept, and two distinct but related concepts: invariant functions [52] and invariant relations [50].