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Rohini 60290315053

The document discusses the concepts of syntax and semantics in programming languages, highlighting that syntax refers to the structure and rules governing code, while semantics pertains to the meaning of the code. It emphasizes the importance of syntax in ensuring code functionality and provides examples of syntax differences between languages like Python, Java, and C++. Additionally, it introduces terminologies related to language definitions and formal approaches to describing syntax.

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pavi250496
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11 views4 pages

Rohini 60290315053

The document discusses the concepts of syntax and semantics in programming languages, highlighting that syntax refers to the structure and rules governing code, while semantics pertains to the meaning of the code. It emphasizes the importance of syntax in ensuring code functionality and provides examples of syntax differences between languages like Python, Java, and C++. Additionally, it introduces terminologies related to language definitions and formal approaches to describing syntax.

Uploaded by

pavi250496
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

1.2 DESCRIBING SYNTAX

Syntax: the form or structure of the expressions, statements, and program units.

In a programming language, Syntax defines the rules that govern the structure and
arrangement of keywords, symbols, and other elements. Syntax doesn't have any relationship with
the meaning of the statement; it is only associated with the grammar and structure of the
programming language.

A line of code is syntactically valid and correct if it follows all the rules of syntax. Syntax
does not have to do anything with the meaning of the statement. Syntax errors are encountered
after the program has been executed.

Some examples of syntax errors include missing semicolons in C++, undeclared variables
in Java, although such errors are easy to catch.

Programming languages are less accommodating to syntax errors. Syntax determines how
we organize the elements in our code to make it legible to the computer. If there’s a syntax error,
the computer might not be able to read it.

Here are some examples of what programming syntax can determine:

 whether we use lower-case or upper-case characters


 how we notate code comments
 how we use whitespace
 how we indicate the relationships between statements (individual commands issued to the
computer)

Syntax is important in programming because it would be impossible to write functioning code


without it. Code is a set of instructions written in a language that a computer can read and act on.
If there are syntax errors in the code, the program won’t work.

Semantics: the meaning of the expressions, statements, and program units

Semantics refers to the meaning of the associated line of code and how they are executed
in a programming language. Hence, semantics helps interpret what function the line of
code/program is performing.

CCS358-PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES


ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Semantic errors are encountered and handled during runtime of the program execution. If
there is any semantic error and even when the statement has correct syntax, it wouldn't perform
the function that was intended for it to do. Thus, such errors are difficult to catch.

Syntax and semantics provide a language’s definition

Comparing syntax in programming languages

Syntax can vary quite a bit between languages. Python is clearly simpler than Java and
C++. This is because Python was designed to read like a human language. It doesn’t take much
time to learn Python well enough that you can read a program and understand basically what it’s
doing. Here are a few specific ways that Python syntax is simpler than Java and C++.

Python doesn’t require users to declare variable types, while Java and C++ do.

 Whitespace is an important part of Python syntax. The indentation of lines plays an


important role in indicating the relationships between lines of code. In Java and C++,
semicolons are used to indicate the end of a statement, and curly brackets are used to
demarcate groups of statements.
 Code comments in Python are notated with #, while in Java and C++ they’re notated with
//.
 Python is unique among these three languages, and Java and C++ are quite similar. When
languages have similar syntax, this often means that they’re based on an earlier language.
Java and C++ are similar because both are based on the C programming language. This is
another way in which programming languages are similar to human languages. Similarities
of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax generally indicate a common ancestor.

These similarities can be really helpful when trying to learn a new language. If you’re proficient
in Java and you’re trying to learn C++, or vice versa, you’ll encounter some familiar elements that
will streamline the process.

CCS358-PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES


ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Users of a language definition

 Other language designers


 Implementers
 Programmers (the users of the language)

Terminologies

 A sentence is a string of characters over some alphabet


 A language is a set of sentences
 A lexeme is the lowest level syntactic unit of a language (e.g., * , sum, begin)
 A token is a category of lexemes (e.g., identifier)

Example: Lexemes and Tokens

index = 2 * count + 17

Formal approaches to describing syntax:

Recognizers

 A recognition device reads input strings over the alphabet of the language and
decides whether the input strings belong to the language

Example: syntax analysis part of a compiler

Generators –

o A device that generates sentences of a language

CCS358-PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES


ROHINI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

o One can determine if the syntax of a particular sentence is syntactically correct by


comparing it to the structure of the generator

CCS358-PRINCIPLES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

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