Unification and anti-unification in applicative matching logic

Matching logic is a logical framework for specifying and reasoning about programs using pattern matching semantics. A pattern in normal form is made up of a number of structural components and constraints. Structural components are syntactically matched, while constraints need to be satisfied. Having multiple structural patterns poses a practical problem as it requires multiple matching operations. The number of structural components can be reduced by unification and anti-unification. Algorithms for both processes have already been defined and proven correct in a sorted, polyadic variant of matching logic. This paper revisits the subject in the applicative variant of the language, while generalizing the unification problem and mechanizing a proven-sound solution in Coq, as well as exploring certain possible extensions of the unification algorithm in a semi-formalized manner.

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Journal
Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming
Published
2026-04-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlamp.2026.101128
Primary Topic
Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge
Type
article
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article

Unification and anti-unification in applicative matching logic

Péter Bereczky, Dániel Horpácsi, Ádám Kurucz
Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming
Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge
article

Unification and anti-unification in applicative matching logic

Péter Bereczky, Dániel Horpácsi, Ádám Kurucz
article en

Abstract

Matching logic is a logical framework for specifying and reasoning about programs using pattern matching semantics. A pattern in normal form is made up of a number of structural components and constraints. Structural components are syntactically matched, while constraints need to be satisfied. Having multiple structural patterns poses a practical problem as it requires multiple matching operations. The number of structural components can be reduced by unification and anti-unification. Algorithms for both processes have already been defined and proven correct in a sorted, polyadic variant of matching logic. This paper revisits the subject in the applicative variant of the language, while generalizing the unification problem and mechanizing a proven-sound solution in Coq, as well as exploring certain possible extensions of the unification algorithm in a semi-formalized manner.

Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in ProgrammingVol. 150
Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 21%
Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge
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Unification and anti-unification in applicative matching logic — Péter Bereczky, Dániel Horpácsi, et al. · Journal of Logical and Algebraic Methods in Programming (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS