syntax

n 1: the grammatical arrangement of words in sentences [syn: {sentence

structure}, {phrase structure}]

2: a systematic orderly arrangement

3: studies of the rules for forming admissible sentences

syntax

The structure of strings in some language. A language's

syntax is described by a {grammar}. For example, the syntax

of a binary number could be expressed as

binary_number ◦ bit [ binary_number ]

bit ◦ "0" | "1"

meaning that a binary number is a bit optionally followed by a

binary number and a bit is a literal zero or one digit.

The meaning of the language is given by its {semantics}.

See also {abstract syntax}, {concrete syntax}.

(1994-10-31)