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Lexical vs. Syntax Analysis
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Purpose of Lexical Analysis
Lexical analysis breaks the high-level program source code into meaningful elements called tokens. It simplifies the parser's job by abstracting the raw code into symbolical representations.
What are tokens?
Tokens are the smallest units of meaning identified by the lexical analyzer during the scanning process, such as keywords, identifiers, literals, operators, and symbols.
Role of syntax analysis in compiler design
Syntax analysis checks if the tokenized input conforms to the rules of a formal grammar, constructs a syntax tree, and prepares the input for further stages of compilation, such as semantic analysis.
Can lexical analysis handle nested structures?
No, lexical analysis cannot handle nested structures as it only recognizes tokens at the surface level without considering context or structure.
What data structure is commonly used to represent the outcome of syntax analysis?
Syntax analysis commonly uses a parse tree or abstract syntax tree (AST) to represent the hierarchical structure of the source code according to the grammar.
Is syntax analysis dependent on lexical analysis?
Yes, syntax analysis depends on lexical analysis to provide the tokens that are used to construct the parse tree or syntax tree according to the grammar rules.
What does syntax analysis add over lexical analysis?
Syntax analysis (parsing) adds structure to the flat sequence of tokens produced by lexical analysis, ensuring that the sequences form meaningful expressions according to the grammar of the language.
How is a syntax error different from a lexical error?
A lexical error occurs when the scanner finds an invalid token, whereas a syntax error occurs when the parser encounters a token sequence that does not follow the defined grammar rules.
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