In computer science, in particular in concurrency theory, a dependency relation is a binary relation on a finite domain ,[1]: 4 symmetric, and reflexive;[1]: 6 i.e. a finite tolerance relation. That is, it is a finite set of ordered pairs , such that
In general, dependency relations are not transitive; thus, they generalize the notion of an equivalence relation by discarding transitivity.
is also called the alphabet on which is defined. The independency induced by is the binary relation
That is, the independency is the set of all ordered pairs that are not in . The independency relation is symmetric and irreflexive. Conversely, given any symmetric and irreflexive relation on a finite alphabet, the relation
is a dependency relation.
The pair is called the concurrent alphabet.[2]: 6 The pair is called the independency alphabet or reliance alphabet, but this term may also refer to the triple (with induced by ).[3]: 6 Elements are called dependent if holds, and independent, else (i.e. if holds).[1]: 6
Given a reliance alphabet , a symmetric and irreflexive relation can be defined on the free monoid of all possible strings of finite length by: for all strings and all independent symbols . The equivalence closure of is denoted or and called -equivalence. Informally, holds if the string can be transformed into by a finite sequence of swaps of adjacent independent symbols. The equivalence classes of are called traces,[1]: 7–8 and are studied in trace theory.