Definitions =========== .. index:: let ... := ... (term) .. _let-in: Let-in definitions ------------------ .. insertprodn term_let term_let .. prodn:: term_let ::= let @name {? : @type } := @term in @term | let @name {+ @binder } {? : @type } := @term in @term | @destructuring_let :n:`let @ident := @term__1 in @term__2` represents the local binding of the variable :n:`@ident` to the value :n:`@term__1` in :n:`@term__2`. :n:`let @ident {+ @binder} := @term__1 in @term__2` is an abbreviation for :n:`let @ident := fun {+ @binder} => @term__1 in @term__2`. .. seealso:: Extensions of the `let ... in ...` syntax are described in :ref:`irrefutable-patterns`. .. index:: single: ... : ... (type cast) single: ... <: ... single: ... <<: ... .. _type-cast: Type cast --------- .. insertprodn term_cast term_cast .. prodn:: term_cast ::= @term10 : @type | @term10 <: @type | @term10 <<: @type The expression :n:`@term10 : @type` is a type cast expression. It enforces the type of :n:`@term10` to be :n:`@type`. :n:`@term10 <: @type` specifies that the virtual machine will be used to type check that :n:`@term10` has type :n:`@type` (see :tacn:`vm_compute`). :n:`@term10 <<: @type` specifies that compilation to OCaml will be used to type check that :n:`@term10` has type :n:`@type` (see :tacn:`native_compute`). .. _gallina-definitions: Top-level definitions --------------------- Definitions extend the global environment by associating names to terms. A definition can be seen as a way to give a meaning to a name or as a way to abbreviate a term. In any case, the name can later be replaced at any time by its definition. The operation of unfolding a name into its definition is called :term:`delta-reduction`. A definition is accepted by the system if and only if the defined term is well-typed in the current context of the definition and if the name is not already used. The name defined by the definition is called a :gdef:`constant` and the term it refers to is its :gdef:`body`. A definition has a type, which is the type of its :term:`body`. A formal presentation of constants and environments is given in Section :ref:`typing-rules`. .. cmd:: {| Definition | Example } @ident_decl @def_body :name: Definition; Example .. insertprodn def_body reduce .. prodn:: def_body ::= {* @binder } {? : @type } := {? @reduce } @term | {* @binder } : @type reduce ::= Eval @red_expr in These commands bind :n:`@term` to the name :n:`@ident` in the global environment, provided that :n:`@term` is well-typed. They can take the :attr:`local` :term:`attribute`, which makes the defined :n:`@ident` accessible by :cmd:`Import` and its variants only through their fully qualified names. If :n:`@reduce` is present then :n:`@ident` is bound to the result of the specified computation on :n:`@term`. These commands also support the :attr:`universes(polymorphic)`, :attr:`program` (see :ref:`program_definition`), :attr:`canonical`, :attr:`bypass_check(universes)`, :attr:`bypass_check(guard)`, and :attr:`using` attributes. If :n:`@term` is omitted, :n:`@type` is required and Coq enters proof mode. This can be used to define a term incrementally, in particular by relying on the :tacn:`refine` tactic. In this case, the proof should be terminated with :cmd:`Defined` in order to define a :term:`constant` for which the computational behavior is relevant. See :ref:`proof-editing-mode`. The form :n:`Definition @ident : @type := @term` checks that the type of :n:`@term` is definitionally equal to :n:`@type`, and registers :n:`@ident` as being of type :n:`@type`, and bound to value :n:`@term`. The form :n:`Definition @ident {* @binder } : @type := @term` is equivalent to :n:`Definition @ident : forall {* @binder }, @type := fun {* @binder } => @term`. .. seealso:: :cmd:`Opaque`, :cmd:`Transparent`, :tacn:`unfold`. .. exn:: @ident already exists. :name: ‘ident’ already exists. (Definition) :undocumented: .. exn:: The term @term has type @type while it is expected to have type @type'. :undocumented: .. _Assertions: Assertions and proofs --------------------- An assertion states a proposition (or a type) for which the proof (or an inhabitant of the type) is interactively built using :term:`tactics `. Assertions cause Coq to enter :term:`proof mode` (see :ref:`proofhandling`). Common tactics are described in the :ref:`writing-proofs` chapter. The basic assertion command is: .. cmd:: @thm_token @ident_decl {* @binder } : @type {* with @ident_decl {* @binder } : @type } :name: Theorem; Lemma; Fact; Remark; Corollary; Proposition; Property .. insertprodn thm_token thm_token .. prodn:: thm_token ::= Theorem | Lemma | Fact | Remark | Corollary | Proposition | Property After the statement is asserted, Coq needs a proof. Once a proof of :n:`@type` under the assumptions represented by :n:`@binder`\s is given and validated, the proof is generalized into a proof of :n:`forall {* @binder }, @type` and the theorem is bound to the name :n:`@ident` in the global environment. These commands accept the :attr:`program` attribute. See :ref:`program_lemma`. Forms using the :n:`with` clause are useful for theorems that are proved by simultaneous induction over a mutually inductive assumption, or that assert mutually dependent statements in some mutual co-inductive type. It is equivalent to :cmd:`Fixpoint` or :cmd:`CoFixpoint` but using tactics to build the proof of the statements (or the :term:`body` of the specification, depending on the point of view). The inductive or co-inductive types on which the induction or coinduction has to be done is assumed to be non ambiguous and is guessed by the system. Like in a :cmd:`Fixpoint` or :cmd:`CoFixpoint` definition, the induction hypotheses have to be used on *structurally smaller* arguments (for a :cmd:`Fixpoint`) or be *guarded by a constructor* (for a :cmd:`CoFixpoint`). The verification that recursive proof arguments are correct is done only at the time of registering the lemma in the global environment. To know if the use of induction hypotheses is correct at some time of the interactive development of a proof, use the command :cmd:`Guarded`. This command accepts the :attr:`bypass_check(universes)`, :attr:`bypass_check(guard)`, and :attr:`using` attributes. .. exn:: The term @term has type @type which should be Set, Prop or Type. :undocumented: .. exn:: @ident already exists. :name: ‘ident’ already exists. (Theorem) The name you provided is already defined. You have then to choose another name. .. exn:: Nested proofs are discouraged and not allowed by default. This error probably means that you forgot to close the last "Proof." with "Qed." or "Defined.". \ If you really intended to use nested proofs, you can do so by turning the "Nested Proofs Allowed" flag on. You are asserting a new statement when you're already in proof mode. This feature, called nested proofs, is disabled by default. To activate it, turn the :flag:`Nested Proofs Allowed` flag on. Proofs start with the keyword :cmd:`Proof`. Then Coq enters the proof mode until the proof is completed. In proof mode, the user primarily enters tactics (see :ref:`writing-proofs`). The user may also enter commands to manage the proof mode (see :ref:`proofhandling`). When the proof is complete, use the :cmd:`Qed` command so the kernel verifies the proof and adds it to the global environment. .. note:: #. Several statements can be simultaneously asserted provided the :flag:`Nested Proofs Allowed` flag was turned on. #. Not only other assertions but any command can be given while in the process of proving a given assertion. In this case, the command is understood as if it would have been given before the statements still to be proved. Nonetheless, this practice is discouraged and may stop working in future versions. #. Proofs ended by :cmd:`Qed` are declared :term:`opaque`. Their content cannot be unfolded (see :ref:`applyingconversionrules`), thus realizing some form of *proof-irrelevance*. Proofs that end with :cmd:`Defined` can be unfolded. #. :cmd:`Proof` is recommended but can currently be omitted. On the opposite side, :cmd:`Qed` (or :cmd:`Defined`) is mandatory to validate a proof. #. One can also use :cmd:`Admitted` in place of :cmd:`Qed` to turn the current asserted statement into an axiom and exit proof mode.