Syntax

/ˈsɪn.tæks/

Meaning & Definition

noun

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

In English, the typical syntax is subject-verb-object.

A set of rules that dictates how symbols can be combined to create valid statements in a programming language.

Understanding the syntax of Python is essential for writing effective code.

The study of such arrangements and rules.

Syntax is a vital component of linguistics that examines how sentence structures convey meaning.

Derived from the Greek word 'syntaxis', meaning 'arrangement'.

breaking down syntax

Analyzing the structure of sentences to understand their components.

syntax error

A mistake in the use of rules governing the structure of sentences or commands.

syntax highlighting

The use of color to differentiate between elements of code in programming environments.

morphology

The study of the structure of words.

grammar

The system and structure of a language including syntax.

semantics

The study of meaning in language.

Syntactically correct

That sentence is syntactically correct, but it doesn’t make any sense.

Syntax police

She acts like the syntax police, always correcting everyone's grammar.