A Hoare triple is a formal notation used in computer science to describe the behavior of computer programs. It is expressed in the form P C Q, where P is a precondition, C is a command or program, and Q is a postcondition. This notation asserts that if the precondition P holds true before executing command C, then the postcondition Q will hold true after C has been executed, provided that C terminates. Hoare triples are essential in the field of formal verification, which aims to prove the correctness of algorithms and programs. They help in reasoning about program behavior and ensuring that software behaves as expected under specified conditions. This concept was introduced by the computer scientist C.A.R. Hoare in the 1960s.