Theory

Theoretical computer science explores the mathematical underpinnings of computer science, particularly efficient algorithms and protocols, which ultimately make much of modern computing possible. The very concept of computation gives a fundamental new lens for examining the world around us and underlies many 20th century inventions. Theory research has helped propel innovation in every field of computer science, including cryptography, AI, machine learning, computational biology, e-commerce, and quantum computing, among others. An abiding interest in the theory and power of computation has been a regular feature of life at Princeton since the times of Alan Turing, Alonzo Church, Kurt Gödel, and John von Neumann, all of whom were Princeton residents.