Theory of Computing Systems

Theory of Computing Systems (commonly abbreviated as Theory Comput. Syst.', ISSN 1432-4350) is a peer-reviewed journal of theoretical computer science published by Springer. It was founded in 1967 as Mathematical Systems Theory'' and has carried its present title since volume 30 in 1997. It has appeared eight times per year since 2018.Theory of Computing Systems（常用缩写 Theory Comput. Syst.，ISSN 1432-4350）是理论计算机科学领域的同行评审学术期刊，由施普林格（Springer）出版，创刊于 1967 年，前身是 Mathematical Systems Theory（数学系统理论），1997 年第 30 卷起改用现名，2018 年起每年出版 8 期。

Scope

The journal is devoted to publishing original research from all areas of theoretical computer science, ranging from foundational areas such as computational complexity, through fundamental areas such as algorithms and data structures, to focused areas such as parallel and distributed algorithms and architectures.该刊致力于发表理论计算机科学各领域的原创研究，学科跨度自基础领域到核心领域再到聚焦领域：基础领域涵盖计算复杂性（computational complexity）；核心领域涵盖算法与数据结构（algorithms and data structures）；聚焦领域涵盖并行与分布式算法及体系结构（parallel and distributed algorithms and architectures）。^[1]

• Computational complexity: complexity theory of computational problems, complexity classes, parameterized complexity, approximation algorithms and inapproximability results.计算复杂性： 问题的计算难度理论、复杂性类、参数化复杂性、近似算法与不可近似性结果。

• Algorithms and data structures: combinatorial optimization, graph algorithms, online and randomized algorithms, computational geometry, and the design and analysis of data structures.算法与数据结构： 组合优化、图论算法、在线与随机算法、计算几何，以及算法在数据结构层面的设计与分析。

• Parallel and distributed computing: parallel algorithms and architectures, models and algorithms for distributed computing, fault-tolerant and self-stabilizing systems, and verification of concurrent systems.并行与分布式计算： 并行算法与体系结构、分布式计算的模型与算法、容错与自稳定系统、并发系统的验证。

• Formal and automata theory: automata theory, formal languages, computability theory, programming-language semantics and type systems, among the foundational branches of the discipline.形式化与自动机理论： 自动机理论、形式语言、可计算性理论、程序设计语言语义与类型系统等理论计算机科学的基础分支。

• Automata and algebraic methods: the journal also publishes work on automata theory, including star height, on Krohn–Rhodes theory, and on algebraic and combinatorial systems theory.自动机与代数： 期刊亦刊发自动机理论（star height 等主题）、Krohn–Rhodes 理论、代数与组合系统理论等方向的研究。

History

• Founding (1967): the journal was founded in 1967 under the title Mathematical Systems Theory, with an initial emphasis on mathematical systems theory rather than the full breadth of theoretical computer science seen today.创刊（1967年）： 期刊于 1967 年创刊，初名 Mathematical Systems Theory，创刊时的重心偏向数学系统理论，而非今日的理论计算机科学全貌。

• Renaming (1997): from volume 30 the journal adopted its present title, Theory of Computing Systems, and its focus shifted decisively towards theoretical computer science. The change also served to distinguish it from the ACM journal Transactions on Computing Systems, abbreviated ToCS.更名（1997年）： 自第 30 卷起改用现名 Theory of Computing Systems，期刊重心随之明确转向理论计算机科学，这一改名也避免了与 ACM 的 Transactions on Computing Systems（常简称 ToCS）相混淆。

• Frequency increase (2018): from 2018 the journal settled on eight issues per year, its frequency having varied in earlier periods. The change allowed important results from the theoretical computer science conference circuit to reach the journal more quickly.出版频率提升（2018年）： 自 2018 年起期刊固定为每年 8 期，此前的出版频率曾随时期变化。此项调整使理论计算机科学界的重要会议论文得以更快进入该刊。

• Standing in the discipline: the journal's impact factor has long sat in the 0.4 to 0.7 range, at 0.6 in 2025 with a five-year figure of 0.7, and its h-index is 37. It ranks Q3 in the JCR category "Computer Science, Theory & Methods", placing it among the specialist journals of that subfield.学科影响： 该刊影响因子长期处于 0.4 至 0.7 区间（2025 年为 0.6，五年影响因子 0.7），h 指数为 37，在 JCR"计算机科学：理论方法"类别中位列 Q3，属该细分领域内的专业期刊。

Editors

The journal has an Editor-in-Chief drawn from the theoretical computer science community, responsible for the journal's scope and for final acceptance of manuscripts. Below the Editor-in-Chief, subject editors and assistant editors form the board that conducts peer review.期刊设执行主编（Editor-in-Chief），由理论计算机科学领域的学者担任，负责期刊的选题方向与稿件的最终录用；其下设有按研究方向划分的编委与助理编辑团队，承担同行评审工作。^[2]

• Editor-in-Chief: Mitsunori Ogihara, University of Osaka, Japan, a scholar in theoretical computer science.执行主编： 荻原光则（大阪大学，日本），理论计算机科学学者。

• Editorial board: the full list of board members and recent changes are published on the journal's official website.编委阵容： 完整编委会名单与近期变动见期刊官网。