Symbolic computation
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Symbolic computation, computer algebra, algebraic computation, or, less commonly, symbolic manipulation, symbolic processing, symbolic mathematics, or symbolic algebra, relates to the use of machines, such as computers, to manipulate mathematical equations and expressions in symbolic form, as opposed to manipulating the approximations of specific numerical quantities represented by those symbols. Such a system might be used for symbolic integration or differentiation, substitution of one expression into another, simplification of an expression, etc.
It has uses in software testing under the title of symbolic execution where it can be used to analyse if and when errors in the code may occur. It can be used to predict what code statements do to specified inputs and outputs. It is also important for considering path traversal. It struggles when dealing with statements which are not purely mathematical.
There are many software packages for symbolic mathematics, usually called computer algebra systems.
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This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, which is licensed under the GFDL.
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