Theoretical Computer Science is mathematical and abstract in spirit, but it derives its motivation from practical and everyday computation. Its aim is to understand the nature of computation and, as a consequence of this understanding, provide more efficient methodologies. All papers introducing or studying mathematical, logic and formal concepts and methods are welcome, provided that their motivation is clearly drawn from the field of computing.

Any queries about submissions and peer review should be addressed to the TCS editorial office: tcs@elsevier.com.

Papers published in Theoretical Computer Science are grouped in three sections according to their nature. The first section `Algorithms, automata, complexity and games' is devoted to the study of algorithms and their complexity using analytical, combinatorial or probabilistic methods. It includes the whole field of abstract complexity (i.e. all the results about the hierarchies that can be defined using Turing machines), the whole field of automata and language theory (including automata on infinite words and infinitary languages), the whole field of geometrical (graphic) applications and the whole field of measurement of system performance using statistical methods.

The second section,`Logic, semantics and theory of programming', is devoted to formal methods to check properties of programs or implement formally described languages; it contains all papers dealing with semantics of sequential and parallel programming languages. All formal methods treating these problems are published in this section, including rewriting techniques, abstract data types, automatic theorem proving, calculi such as SCP or CCS, Petri nets, new logic calculi and developments in categorical methods.

The third section, 'Natural Computing', is devoted to the study of computing occurring in nature and computing inspired by nature. In the rapidly evolving field of computer science, natural computing plays an important role as the catalyst for the synergy of human designed computing with the computing going on in nature. This synergy leads to a deeper and broader understanding of the nature of computation. Although natural computing is concerned also with experiments and applications, this section of Theoretical Computer Science is focused on the theoretical aspects of natural computing with clear relevance to computing. Among others, it will contain papers dealing with the theoretical issues in evolutionary computing, neural networks, molecular computing, and quantum computing.

Theoretical Computer Science will now publish high-quality advanced introductions. Advanced introductions, which are by invitation only, should cover a focused topic within the scope of TCS at a level that would be appropriate for a scientist who is new to the topic and wishes to gain an up-to-date understanding. Articles should be self-contained, including motivation and basic definitions, and proceed to advanced material and/or open problems which may - but need not - include new results. Sufficient references should be given to provide the reader with entry points to the research literature on the topic as well as the origins of the main ideas. Submissions will go through the standard review process of TCS.

Special Issue on The 20th and 21th International Conferences on Distributed Computing and Intelligent Technology
Submission Date: 2025-11-01

Guest editors:

Quentin Bramas, 
Associate Professor at the University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

Stéphane Devismes,
Professor at University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France

Partha Sarathi Mandal, 
Professor at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, North Guwahati, India
Krishnendu Mukhopadhyaya,
Professor at Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India 

Special issue information:

The special issue contains a selection of papers presented in the DC track at the 20th and 21th International Conference on Distributed Computing and Intelligent Technology (ICDCIT 2024 and 2025). ICDCIT 2024 was held on January 17-20, 2024 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India and ICDCIT 2025 will be held on January 8-11, 2025 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. ICDCIT aims to bring together a wide range of researchers to exchange research results and ideas on the foundations and application of distributed computing and intelligent technology. The main themes of the DC track of the conference are:

    Autonomous Computing, Self-organization, and Self-stabilization
    Distributed Graph Algorithms
    Fault-tolerant Algorithms
    Game-Theoretic Approaches to Distributed Computing
    Mobile Robots, Autonomous Agents,
    Programmable Particles, Nanoscale Robots.

The authors of the selected papers as well as keynote/invited/distinguished speakers of the ICDCIT conference will be the contributors to the special issue.