Abstract Data Types: Their Specification, Representation, and Use (Oxford Applied Mathematics and Computing Science Series)

This volume introduces abstract data types and their use in software engineering. Designed for self-study, the text offers over 100 exercises with fully worked solutions, and check point questions at critical places for monitoring progress. The authors, who base the text on their course at Open University (U.K.), lead students through designing, constructing, and implementing abstract data types using a number of simple but crucial concepts of software engineering such as stack, queue, and binary search trees. Two specification methods are studied: the axiomatic approach and the constructive approach. Illustrative examples throughout use Modula-2 and Ada, and three case studies are considered in detail.