View source for Syntax (programming languages)

In [[computer science]], the '''syntax''' of a [[programming language]] is the set of rules that defines the combinations of symbols that are considered to be a correctly structured document or fragment in that language.

== Description ==

This applies both to programming languages, where the document represents [[source code]], and [[Markup language|markup languages]], where the document represents data.

The syntax of a language defines its surface form.

Text-based computer languages are based on sequences of characters, while visual programming languages are based on the spatial layout and connections between symbols (which may be textual or graphical).

== Syntax error ==

Documents that are syntactically invalid are said to have a [[syntax error]].

== Semantics ==

Syntax (form) is contrasted with semantics (meaning).

In processing computer languages, semantic processing generally comes after syntactic processing, but in some cases semantic processing is necessary for complete syntactic analysis, and these are done together or concurrently.

== Compilers ==

In a [[compiler]], the syntactic analysis comprises the frontend, while semantic analysis comprises the backend (and middle end, if this phase is distinguished).

== See also ==

* [[Array data type]]
* [[Compiler]]
* [[Computer program]]
* [[Computer programming]]
* [[Computer science]]
* [[Data type]]
* [["Hello, World!" program]]
* [[Interpreter (computing)]]
* [[JavaScript syntax and semantics]]
* [[Lexical analysis]]
* [[Markup language]]
* [[PHP syntax and semantics]]
* [[Programming language]]
* [[Source code]]
* [[Syntactic sugar]]
* [[Syntax error]]
* [[Syntax highlighting]]
* [[Syntax (logic)]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syntax_(programming_languages) Syntax (programming languages)] @ Wikipedia

[[Category:Computation]]
[[Category:Computer programming]]
[[Category:Computer science]]