<p>in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantics_(computer_science)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">theoretical computer science</a>, &quot;semantic&quot; is meant to indicate a property of a language.</p>
<p>in particular, it describes the set of words/symbols that are disposed in a particular order to describe a well-formed program.</p>
<p>always in theoretical computer science, it is often introduced alongside the study of automata, in order to demonstrate the differences and limitations of various theoretical models.</p>
<p>in the paper you linked it is mentioned how the logic that we can run on protocols like Bitcoin could be expressed using a simple <strong>state machine</strong>, the simplest of automatas, which are easier to describe and write but less powerful than models such as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushdown_automaton" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PDAs</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_machine" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Turing machines</a></p>
<p>so when it is said that the UTxO tends to produce a simpler semantic model from a purely practical point of view it can be seen as a way to express the complexity needed to describe a program.</p>
<p>A simpler semantic model doesn't necessarily mean that is less powerful, only that is easier to express. (whereas a less powerful semantic model is condition sufficient but not necessary for a simpler semantic model)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-02T20:38:07.177Z
2022-07-02T20:38:07.177Z
Michele Nuzzi
<p>In the eUTxO research paper by IOHK, it mentioned that the eUTxO model is able to enable both expressive smart contracts and keep the simple semantic simplicity of the UTXO model.</p>
<p>But what does semantic simplicity mean?</p>
<p>As per request here is a <a href="https://iohk.io/en/research/library/papers/the-extended-utxo-model/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">link to the paper</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-02T14:54:10.147Z
could you share the link to the paper for context?
Michele Nuzzi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-02T15:19:36.597Z
Good call don't no why I didn't attach one. Sorry.
KryptoKing
<smart-contract><utxo><eutxo><iohk>
What is a Semantics Model?
# What is a Semantics Model?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-02)

In the eUTxO research paper by IOHK, it mentioned that the eUTxO model is able to enable both expressive smart contracts and keep the simple semantic simplicity of the UTXO model.

But what does semantic simplicity mean?

As per request here is a [link to the paper](https://iohk.io/en/research/library/papers/the-extended-utxo-model/).

**Tags:** smart-contract, utxo, eutxo, iohk
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: could you share the link to the paper for context?  
> **username_0**: Good call don't no why I didn't attach one. Sorry.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-07-02. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

in [theoretical computer science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantics_(computer_science)), "semantic" is meant to indicate a property of a language.

in particular, it describes the set of words/symbols that are disposed in a particular order to describe a well-formed program.

always in theoretical computer science, it is often introduced alongside the study of automata, in order to demonstrate the differences and limitations of various theoretical models.

in the paper you linked it is mentioned how the logic that we can run on protocols like Bitcoin could be expressed using a simple **state machine**, the simplest of automatas, which are easier to describe and write but less powerful than models such as a [PDAs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushdown_automaton) and [Turing machines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_machine)

so when it is said that the UTxO tends to produce a simpler semantic model from a purely practical point of view it can be seen as a way to express the complexity needed to describe a program.

A simpler semantic model doesn't necessarily mean that is less powerful, only that is easier to express. (whereas a less powerful semantic model is condition sufficient but not necessary for a simpler semantic model)


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