Denotational semantics

Denotational semantics is the way computer scientists use language to describe the meaning of computer code. Basically, it's a way to talk about a computer program in terms of the number values it produces. For example, if a computer program reads in a number like '3' and then doubles it, denotational semantics would describe the program as saying "take input number, multiply it by 2, and produce the result." In other words, rather than describing the steps the computer uses to double the number, the denotational semantics describes what the program will do with the number -- in this case, double it.