[p0llard]

> There exist many type inference algorithms, the best known one is the so-called Algorithm W.

Is this correct? I dug out Milner's paper [1] where he states that Algorithm J is more efficient (which was what I had been led to believe), but that Algorithm W is more suited to functional (as opposed to imperative) implementations.

Edit: Actually I think I'm parsing this sentence incorrectly, "best known" means literally that as opposed to "most efficient known".

[1] https://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/wadler/papers/papers-we-love/...

[ThreeFx]

Best known is indeed meant as "most widely known" (although that may be true for only my little bubble). I think it's taught in most type theory / formal methods courses though. If anybody has facts for/against this claim I'd be happy to update the page.

[kevincox]

It might make sense to update to "most widely known" to avoid that source of ambiguity. You can take that sentence as ((best known) algorithm) or (best (known algorithm))

[p0llard]

Yeah I think you're definitely right, and Algorithm W is how HM was introduced to me when I studied it.

kevincox's comment sums up my misunderstanding.