This volume presents the proceedings of the 12th International Colloquium on Automata, Languages, and Programming (ICALP 1985). The papers cover a wide range of theoretical computer science topics, including formal language theory, automata theory, algorithm design, and computational complexity. The authors, leading researchers in the field, explore new theoretical models and present novel algorithmic solutions to complex problems.

The proceedings of ICALP conferences are typically regarded as significant contributions to the field of theoretical computer science, presenting cutting-edge research to a specialist audience. This volume, from 1985, would have been a key resource for researchers and academics in automata theory, formal languages, and algorithmics at that time. Its contents reflect the state of the art in these areas during the mid-1980s, offering foundational insights and new theoretical developments.