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Structured program theorem

Theorem about a certain class of control-flow graphs

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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionJul 28, 2026
Entity authoritySource title only
Source-derived summary

In programming language theory, the structured program theorem, generally called the Böhm–Jacopini theorem, states that a class of control-flow graphs can compute any computable function using only the following three control structures to combine subprograms :SequenceExecuting one subprogram, and then another subprogram

SelectionExecuting one of two subprograms according to the value of a boolean expression

IterationRepeatedly executing a subprogram as long as a boolean expression is true

Editorial summary

Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Structured program theorem” is theorem about a certain class of control-flow graphs. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Structured, program and theorem, not as a finished interpretation.

Editorial reviewA practical starting point whose main value is the path it opens into stronger specialist and primary sources. The current 67-word lead offers orientation but no explicit four-digit date, so chronology should not be assumed. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. For this dossier, Structured, program and theorem is the immediate research focus.
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The phrase “theorem about a certain class of control-flow graphs” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.

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Vocabulary and entity names are the principal evidence signals here, because they determine the precision of every later search. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jul 28, 2026.

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This entry incorporates text from Structured program theorem” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.