Slide 14.15: Simple facts

Slide 14.14: Using Prolog
Slide 14.16: Simple facts (cont.)
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Simple Facts

In Prolog we can make some statements by using facts. Facts either consist of a particular item or a relation between items. For example we can represent the fact that it is sunny by writing the program:

   sunny.

We can now ask a query of Prolog by asking

   ?- sunny.

?- is the Prolog prompt. To this query, Prolog will answer yes. sunny is true because (from above) Prolog matches it in its database of facts. Facts have some simple rules of syntax:

Facts should always begin with a lowercase letter and end with a period.

The facts themselves can consist of any letter or number combination, as well as the underscore _ character.

Names containing the characters -, +, *, /, or other mathematical operators should be avoided.

Examples of Simple Facts
Here are some simple facts about an imaginary world. /* and */ are comment delimiters.

   john_is_cold.              /* john is cold */

   raining.                   /* it is raining */

   john_Forgot_His_Raincoat.  /* john forgot his raincoat */

   fred_lost_his_car_keys.    /* fred lost is car keys */

   peter_footballer.          /* peter plays football */

These describe a particular set of circumstances for some character john.