# What should I read to understand semantics of programming languages?

I would like to have a good conceptual understanding of the semantics of programming languages: operational-, denotational-, axiomatic-, categorical-.

Is there a good (standard?) textbook for this?

• A reference request like yours is too broad for Stack Exchange -- you ask for a survey of a whole research area! You need to narrow your focus considerably before a question of reasonable scope appears. Try talking to your advisor(s), search with Google Scholar and check out this guide to better (re)searches on Academia. – Raphael Jan 9 '20 at 18:52
• We don't have a strict policy for list questions, but there is a general dislike. Please note also this and this discussion; you might want to improve your question as to avoid the problems explained there. If you are not sure how to improve your question maybe we can help you in Computer Science Chat? – Raphael Jan 9 '20 at 18:53

There are many depending on where you want to start and what exactly you want. Usually textbook start with giving semantics to the While or IMP language and then give references to semantics of lambda calculus (typed untyped) unless you are reading Gunter. I am listing down a few below that I have referenced a number of times:

1. Operational Denotational and Axiomatic:

2. Denotational semantics: Denotational Semantics by Stoy

3. Denotational and Categorical semantics: Semantics of Programming languages by Gunter
4. Categorical semantics: Category theory for computing science by Barr and Wells
5. Mostly operational semantics (may be with types involved):

See also this question and this question on stackexchange. and this further reading section of wikipedia article

• A list of titles is mostly useless; Google will do a better job on any given day. Why, specifically, do you recommend either book? – Raphael Jan 9 '20 at 18:53
• Agreed a list is mostly useless and each of of the books have some merits over the others depending on what the author is well versed with. Generally speaking, the answer to why a book is better than other mostly opinion based and not very objective due to the style of the writer, relatable examples for the reader etc. In my case, as i have mentioned in the answer, these are the ones that I have used and referenced and find them helpful in answering my doubts. – Apoorv Jan 9 '20 at 19:15