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)