Aims & Scope

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 22nd International Conference on Distributed Computing and Intelligent Technology
截稿日期: 2026-03-31

The special issue of Theoretical Computer Science is intended to carry extended version of papers from the Distributed Computing track of the 22nd International Conference on Distributed Computing and Intelligent Technology (ICDCIT) held in January 2026.

Guest editors:

Professor Kishore Kothapalli
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad, India

Special issue information:

The conference track focuses on papers from the themes listed below.

• Autonomous Computing, Self- organization and Self- stabilization• Blockchain & Its Applications
• Cloud and Edge Computing
• Distributed and Cloud Storage
• Distributed and Concurrent Data Structures
• Distributed Auctions Algorithms
• Distributed Graph Algorithms
• Distributed Machine Learning Algorithms
• Distributed Operating Systems, Middleware, Databases
• Fault-tolerant Algorithms
• Federated Learning
• Game-Theoretic Approaches to Distributed Computing
• High-Performance, Cluster and Grid Computing and IoT Systems
• Memory Management
• Mobile Robots, Autonomous Agents, Programmable Particles, Nanoscale Robots, Biological Systems
• Multi-Agent Systems
• Parallel Multiprocessor and Multi-Core Architectures and Algorithms
• Peer-to-Peer Systems, Overlay Networks
• Replication and consistency
• Security in Distributed computing, Cryptographic Protocols
• WSN, Mesh and ad hoc networks

https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/331164/special-issue-of-the-22nd-international-conference-on-distributed-computing-and-intelligent-technology

Special Issue on SSS 2025
截稿日期: 2026-08-28

The special issue contains a selection of papers presented in the 27th International Symposium on Self-stabilization, Safety, and Security of Distributed Systems (SSS) held on October 9-11, 2025, in Kathmandu, Nepal. SSS is an international forum for researchers and practitioners in the design and development of distributed systems with a focus on systems that can provide guarantees on their structure, performance, and/or security in the face of an adverse operational environment. The symposium focuses on original contributions on both fundamental research and practical applications.

Guest editors:

Gokarna Sharma, PhD,
Associate Professor in the Department of Compute Science, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.

Sébastien Tixeuil, PhD,
Professor of Computer Science at Sorbonne University, France.

Special issue information:

The intention of the SI is to publish the selected extended papers appeared in the 27th International Symposium on self-stabilization, safety, and security of distributed systems (SSS 2025). The symposium focuses on original contributions on both fundamental research and practical applications concerning topics in the three symposium tracks: (Track A) Stabilization and Locality in Distributed Computing, (Track B) Time, Safety, and Security in Distributed Computing, and (Track C) Moving and Computing.

Since SSS publishes the original research work, the SI will contribute to advancing the state of the art in distributed computing research on various aspects. The SI is also of interest to Theoretical Computer Science (TCS) community as design and development of distributed systems with provable guarantees has widely been published in TCS and is a journal of significant interest to the SSS research community. Previous editions of SSS also had SI published in TCS. We are excited to continue this tradition. We will select the papers that received best reviews in SSS 2025. We plan to have around 10-12 papers to be published in the SI after careful reviews in the standard of TCS.

Manuscript submission information:

Authors should submit their manuscripts to the Theoretical Computer Science Editorial System (EM) at Submission site for Theoretical Computer Science, and select " VSI:SSS 2025” when they reach the “Article Type” step in the submission process.

General information for submitting papers to TCS can be found at Guide for Authors - Theoretical Computer Science.

Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 28th August 2026

Keywords:

Distributed algorithms, Distributed Systems, Safety, Self-stabilization, Moving and computing

Special Issue on Universality in Logics and Physics
截稿日期: 2026-12-31

This special issue of Theoretical Computer Science, titled “Universality in Logics and Physics,” welcomes original contributions exploring the connections between logics, computation, and possibly physical theories.

Topics include, but are not limited to, logical frameworks, proof systems interoperability, ecumenical proof libraries, automated deduction, quantum programming languages, and physics-inspired models of computation. Submissions presenting advances on the notion of universality across these domains are particularly encouraged. This issue aims to pay tribute — through science only — to the intellectual legacy of Gilles Dowek, whose work built bridges between these communities.

Guest editors:

Dr. Pablo Arrighi
Inria
Areas of Expertise: Quantum computing

Prof. Frank Pfenning
Carnegie Mellon University
Areas of Expertise: Programming Languages, Logics

Manuscript submission information:

Authors should submit their manuscripts to the Theoretical Computer Science Editorial System (EM) at Submission site for Theoretical Computer Science, and select " VSI:UNILOP” when they reach the “Article Type” step in the submission process.

General information for submitting papers to TCS can be found at Guide for Authors - Theoretical Computer Science.

Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 31st December 2026

Keywords:

Interactive theorem proving, ecumenical logics, deduction modulo, unification, rewriting, type theory
Natural computing, quantum computing, quantum programming languages, cellular automata

https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/328918/universality-in-logics-and-physics