Constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs)
n Standard search problem:
n state is a “black box” – any data structure that supports successor
function, heuristic function, and goal test
n CSP:
n state is defined by variables Xi with values from domain Di
n goal test is a set of constraints specifying allowable combinations of
values for subsets of variables
n Simple example of a formal representation language
n Allows useful general-purpose algorithms with more power
than standard search algorithms