Program analysis with partial transfer functions
Brian R. Murphy, Monica S. Lam · 1999
Program analyses used in compilers commonly use a transfer function (TF) to summarize the input/output behavior of a procedure or region, speeding convergence of analysis of the surrounding region or program. A partial transfer function (PTF) summarizes input/output behavior for only a subset of the possible inputs. In many cases, an exact characterization of input/output behavior is possible for the contexts occurring in a given program, even when a concise and exact total summary would not be feasible. In other cases, an approximate PTF can be used which, while not exact, is more precise than would be possible with a total approximation.