Metavariable
Encyclopedia
In logic
, a metavariable (also metalinguistic variable or syntactical variable) is a symbol
or symbol string which belongs to a metalanguage
and stands for elements of some object language
. For instance, in the sentence
the symbols A and B are part of the metalanguage in which the statement about the object language ℒ is formulated.
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
, a metavariable (also metalinguistic variable or syntactical variable) is a symbol
Symbol (formal)
For other uses see Symbol In logic, symbols build literal utility to illustrate ideas. A symbol is an abstraction, tokens of which may be marks or a configuration of marks which form a particular pattern...
or symbol string which belongs to a metalanguage
Metalanguage
Broadly, any metalanguage is language or symbols used when language itself is being discussed or examined. In logic and linguistics, a metalanguage is a language used to make statements about statements in another language...
and stands for elements of some object language
Object language
An object language is a language which is the "object" of study in various fields including logic, linguistics, mathematics and theoretical computer science. The language being used to talk about an object language is called a metalanguage...
. For instance, in the sentence
- Let A and B be two sentences of a language ℒ
the symbols A and B are part of the metalanguage in which the statement about the object language ℒ is formulated.