The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

backward chaining

    An algorithm for proving a goal by recursively
   breaking it down into sub-goals and trying to prove these
   until facts are reached.  Facts are goals with no sub-goals
   which are therefore always true.  Backward training is the
   program execution mechanism used by most logic programming
   language like Prolog.

   Opposite: forward chaining.

   (2004-01-26)