Techniques & Methods
Backward Chaining
Backward chaining starts with a hypothesis or goal and works backward, identifying what conditions or facts must be true to prove the goal. It repeatedly queries subgoals until either base facts are reached (confirming the goal) or the chain fails (refuting it).
Used in Prolog, expert systems, and automated theorem provers, backward chaining is efficient when the goal space is small and well-defined. In contrast, forward chaining is better suited to data-rich environments where many possible conclusions could be derived.
Authority Links
Related Terms
Techniques & Methods
Forward Chaining
Logical reasoning that starts with known facts and applies rules to derive conclusions.
Techniques & Methods
Knowledge Representation
Methods AI systems use to model, store, and reason over knowledge about the world.
Techniques & Methods
Heuristics
Practical problem-solving approaches using rules of thumb rather than exhaustive search.
Core Concepts
Algorithm
A set of mathematical instructions or rules computers follow to accomplish specific tasks.