What is Syntax? Understanding the Difference Between Syntax and Syntactic Sugar

One of the common concepts that programmers often encounter is Syntax. However, not everyone knows what Syntax is and the exact definition of Syntax in programming languages. Let's find out everything about Syntax in this article by FPT Shop!

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Programmers often come across the term Syntax. So what is Syntax? How is Syntax different from Syntactic Sugar? All of this will be explained in detail in this article.

What is Syntax?

Do you know what Syntax is in programming languages? Syntax, also known as Programming Syntax or Syntax Learning, is the most accurate term used to describe the rules and regulations in the presentation and logic of a complete statement. Syntax in each programming language will have differences in terms of syntax.

The syntax structure of a regular statement is implemented as follows:

  • Start with a character or a separate word to identify the statement.
  • Determine the order of operators, the system of characters used to express the statement or parameters.
  • All programming languages require a statement terminator character. The commonly used character for termination is the semicolon.
  • The number of syntax elements in each statement will vary depending on the requirements of each programming language.
  • Each statement will have a separate value depending on the previously designed syntax. These values will be used for various purposes. However, they must still ensure the common purpose of all types of statements is feasibility when applied in practical use.

In programming, determining the combination string is accurately ordered or not is thanks to syntax. Syntax is also the answer to the question of whether that character string can build a complete structure for the software being designed. It can be said that Syntax is the language bridge between computers and programmers.

Syntax will contain syntax strings similar to a complete sentence, a common communication language. These syntax strings support the accurate formation of meaningful statements to perform software operations.

The difference between Syntax and Syntactic Sugar

So, we have just learned what Syntax is. Can you distinguish Syntax from Syntactic Sugar in programming languages?

Syntax in programming refers to the rules and regulations for writing code, including how keywords, operators, and language syntax are used to generate code. Syntactic Sugar refers to simple, easy-to-read, or concise syntax without changing the basic structure or features of the programming language. It makes source code easier to read but does not change the operation of the program. Syntactic Sugar does not add new features to the language but only makes the source code easier to read and understand.

Syntax, in computer science, is just a syntax string that establishes the order of statements, while Syntactic Sugar is a simplified syntax, easier to read and express. To put it simply, Syntactic Sugar is a compact version of the previously presented statements and syntax.

Syntax Error in programming languages

Syntax Error in programming languages occurs when the program does not follow the previously defined syntax. Syntax errors can occur when programmers write incorrect language structure, misplace semicolons, parentheses, or keywords.

When a syntax error occurs, the compiler cannot understand and process that source code. The programmer will receive an error message indicating the incorrect line of code to fix it easily. To fix this error, you need to review the source code to correct syntax errors and comply with the appropriate syntax of the programming language.

Currently, programmers do not need to worry too much when encountering Syntax Error. Because code editors or IDEs such as Visual Studio, Android Studio, NetBeans, etc. have improved and support simple and fast handling of syntax errors.

So, FPT Shop has just explored what Syntax is and Syntax Error in programming languages. Hopefully, this article will help programmers to handle it quickly and accurately.

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Frequently asked questions

Syntax refers to the set of rules and principles that govern the structure of sentences in a natural language. It dictates how words and phrases are combined to form sentences that are grammatically correct and meaningful.

Syntactic sugar is a term used in computer science and programming languages to describe syntax that is designed to make code more readable and expressive for humans, without changing the underlying semantics or functionality. It provides a ‘sweeter’ or more convenient way to write code, hence the term ‘sugar’.

Syntax is the fundamental set of rules that defines the structure of a language, ensuring that sentences are formed correctly. Syntactic sugar, on the other hand, is an optional layer added to a language to enhance its usability and readability. It provides alternative ways to express the same underlying functionality, making the code more concise and easier to understand.

Syntactic sugar improves the developer experience by allowing them to write code that is closer to natural language and abstracting away low-level details. It promotes code reusability, maintainability, and reduces the chances of introducing errors. Syntactic sugar also makes it easier for newcomers to learn and adopt a programming language.

In most cases, syntactic sugar does not have a significant impact on code performance. However, in certain situations, the added convenience of syntactic sugar might come with a slight performance trade-off. This is because the compiler or interpreter may need to perform additional steps to translate the syntactic sugar into the equivalent standard syntax.

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