Equivalence Hypergraphs: E-Graphs for Monoidal Theories

2024-06-22

arXiv.org

AI Summary

This paper establishes a rigorous categorical semantics for e-graphs (equivalence graphs) within the framework of monadic categories, supporting double-pushout (DPO) rewriting. Method: The authors generalize e-graphs to monadic categories by introducing *equivalence hypergraphs* (e-hypergraphs)—a compositional structure whose vertices are algebras over a monad and whose hyperedges encode algebraic operations, thereby internalizing structural equations up to isomorphism. The approach integrates category theory, semilattice-enriched categories, and hypergraph-based combinatorial modeling to yield a sound and complete semantic framework. Contribution/Results: The resulting framework provides an algebraic and monadic foundation for equivalence reasoning in e-graph–based program optimization, and extends the formal applicability of e-graphs to SMT solving and algebraic optimization—enabling principled, categorical treatment of equational rewriting beyond traditional graph-based methods.

Technology Category

• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiability Modulo Theories
• Machine Learning: Graph-based Machine Learning
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Nonmonotonic Reasoning

Application Category

• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs
• Semantics and Knowledge: Methods, algorithms and applications for the development of semantic models, knowledge graphs and other forms of structured data models with machine-interpretable semantics
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Incentives in network design for Web infrastructures and ecosystems

Abstract

The technique of equipping graphs with an equivalence relation, called equality saturation, has recently proved both powerful and practical in program optimisation, particularly for satisfiability modulo theory solvers. We give a categorical semantics to these structures, called e-graphs, in terms of Cartesian categories enriched over a semilattice. We show how this semantics can be generalised to monoidal categories, which opens the door to new applications of e-graph techniques, from algebraic to monoidal theories. Finally, we present a sound and complete combinatorial representation of morphisms in such a category, based on a generalisation of hypergraphs which we call e-hypergraphs. They have the usual advantage that many of their structural equations are absorbed into a general notion of isomorphism.

Problem

• Providing categorical semantics for e-graphs in monoidal categories
• Generalizing e-graph techniques for algebraic and monoidal theories
• Enabling DPO rewriting via e-hypergraphs for structural equivalence

Innovation

• Categorical semantics for e-graphs using Cartesian categories
• Generalization to monoidal categories for new applications
• E-hypergraphs enable DPO rewriting with structural equations