Concrete syntax is the way programming language statements are written in a text file. The spelling of "concrete" is /ˈkɒŋkriːt/ and "syntax" is /ˈsɪntæks/. The letter "c" in "concrete" is pronounced like a "k" due to the following "o" and "e" letters. The "y" in "syntax" is pronounced as an "i" because it is found in the suffix "-y," which often transforms into a long "i" sound. Together, "concrete syntax" refers to the specific rules and structure that dictate how a programming language is written.
Concrete syntax refers to the specific form and structure used to represent programs or expressions in a programming language. It pertains to the rules and conventions that dictate how the syntax of a programming language is written and interpreted by both human programmers and computer systems.
In programming, concrete syntax is a tangible representation of code that humans can read and understand. It involves the usage of specific symbols, keywords, punctuation marks, and formatting principles that give meaning to the code. Programming languages, such as Java, C++, Python, and JavaScript, have their own concrete syntax, which defines the rules for writing valid programs in that particular language.
Concrete syntax can include various elements such as variables, operators, expressions, conditionals, loops, functions, and classes, among others. These elements are defined by their specific rules and grammatical structure within the programming language.
Computer systems, on the other hand, rely on concrete syntax to parse and interpret programs written by humans. The way the code is structured and written determines the proper execution of the program. If the concrete syntax is incorrect or violates the language's grammar rules, the computer system may fail to compile or run the program.
In summary, concrete syntax in programming refers to the specific set of rules and conventions that govern how programs are represented, written, and interpreted. It is an essential aspect of programming languages that enables humans to write understandable code and computer systems to execute programs accurately.
The word "concrete" comes from the Latin word "concretus", which means "grown together" or "hardened". In English, "concrete" refers to something solid, tangible, or specific. The word "syntax" comes from the Greek word "syntaxis", meaning "arrangement" or "ordering". In linguistics and computer science, "syntax" refers to the rules governing how words and symbols are combined to form grammatically correct sentences or expressions.
The term "concrete syntax" combines these two elements. It refers to the specific and tangible representation of a programming or markup language, which defines the language's grammar and the rules for arranging symbols to form valid expressions or code. It represents the surface-level structure of the language, including the specific keywords, punctuation, and other syntactic rules that dictate its overall appearance and organization.