Formal methods

Formal methods is a collection of techniques for improving the reliability of systems, based on mathematics and logics. While testing is still the most commonly used method for debugging and certifying software systems, newer techniques such as program verification and model checking are already in common use by major software houses. Tools for supporting these techniques are constantly being developed and improved, both in industry and in academia. This multidisciplinary research and development area gains a lot of attention, due to the rapidly growing number of critical roles that computer systems play. This chapter describes some of the main formal techniques, while presenting their advantages and limitations.