Refinement (computing)

Refinement is a generic term of computer science that encompasses various approaches for producing correct computer programs and simplifying existing programs to enable their formal verification.

In formal methods, program refinement is the verifiable transformation of an abstract (high-level) formal specification into a concrete (low-level) executable program.Stepwise refinement allows this process to be done in stages. Logically, refinement normally involves implication, but there can be additional complications.

For example, the progressive just-in-time preparation of the product backlog (requirements list) in agile software development approaches, such as Scrum, is also commonly described as refinement.

Data refinement is used to convert an abstract data model (in terms of sets for example) into implementable data structures (such as arrays). Operation refinement converts a specification of an operation on a system into an implementable program (e.g., a procedure). The postcondition can be strengthened and/or the precondition weakened in this process. This reduces any nondeterminism in the specification, typically to a completely deterministic implementation.

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