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Theoretical computer science
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<p>Theoretical computer science is a subfield of <a href="/facts/Computer_science/lN3pEyPz">computer science</a> and <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">mathematics</a> that focuses on the <a href="/facts/Abstraction/p7l9eHGd">abstract</a> and mathematical foundations of <a href="/facts/Computation/qLsELosq">computation</a>. </p><p>It is difficult to circumscribe the theoretical areas precisely. The <a href="/facts/Association_for_Computing_Machinery/abI2atlP">ACM</a>'s <a href="/facts/Special_Interest_Group_on_Algorithms_and_Computation_Theory/E4QBwEy8">Special Interest Group on Algorithms and Computation Theory</a> (SIGACT) provides the following description: </p> <blockquote><p>TCS covers a wide variety of topics including <a href="/facts/Algorithms/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a>, <a href="/facts/Data_structure/yNsNvL1I">data structures</a>, <a href="/facts/Computational_complexity_theory/etHuVF3U">computational complexity</a>, <a href="/facts/Parallel_computation/nQzcpzQt">parallel</a> and <a href="/facts/Distributed_computation/o5nyhqTF">distributed</a> computation, <a href="/facts/Probabilistic_computation/Vq1JTHSR">probabilistic computation</a>, <a href="/facts/Quantum_computation/nbbcgmvq">quantum computation</a>, <a href="/facts/Automata_theory/Q6BmPv63">automata theory</a>, <a href="/facts/Information_theory/qNLH3U5P">information theory</a>, <a href="/facts/Cryptography/e94PEVau">cryptography</a>, <a href="/facts/Program_semantics/JEP1zyBv">program semantics</a> and <a href="/facts/Formal_methods/tw4FCWIb">verification</a>, <a href="/facts/Algorithmic_game_theory/9NAnQcnx">algorithmic game theory</a>, <a href="/facts/Machine_learning/e0w0XJTu">machine learning</a>, <a href="/facts/Computational_biology/GxgNfwcX">computational biology</a>, <a href="/facts/Computational_economics/MgHm5lAS">computational economics</a>, <a href="/facts/Computational_geometry/eeaotQtl">computational geometry</a>, and <a href="/facts/Computational_number_theory/7Lu5N57C">computational number theory</a> and <a href="/facts/Symbolic_computation/hjun1KAX">algebra</a>. Work in this field is often distinguished by its emphasis on mathematical technique and <a href="/facts/Rigor/v23FKfhw">rigor</a>.</p></blockquote>