Temporal Logic

Definition ∞ Temporal logic is a system of logic used to express properties that change over time, making statements about when things happen. In computer science, it is applied to formally verify the behavior of reactive and concurrent systems. For smart contracts, temporal logic can prove properties related to the sequence of events and states. This ensures contracts behave as expected under all possible execution paths. It is a tool for verifying time-dependent system behavior.
Context ∞ Temporal logic is a specialized tool in the formal verification of smart contracts, appearing in technical discussions about blockchain security. It helps developers confirm that critical safety and liveness properties hold true over time, preventing vulnerabilities related to state changes. While complex, its application is essential for auditing high-value smart contracts to guarantee their correct temporal execution.