What is parsing?
A parser is software that can logically check the source code in a software program and thus identify existing errors. Parsing involves analyzing a data stream, such as program code. The parser uses a lexicographical analysis to identify input symbols such as words.
Why is parsing program code so important?
Parsing program code therefore fulfills a very important function for programming software. First and foremost, parsing software serves the goal of defining error-free source code.
Warum ist Parsen von Programmcode so wichtig?
When programming, parsing code is an important process and takes place in every development environment such as an IDE before compilation.
The importance of parsing for error-free software development
Parsing program code plays an essential role in software development as it aims to create error-free source code. This process takes place before compilation in development environments such as IDEs and enables errors to be identified even before the code is translated into machine language.
Parsing video – YouTube tutorial on parsing data
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How does parsing work?
During parsing, a data stream – for example program code – is analyzed. The logic for such a parsing analysis is in turn defined by the source code of the parser program. For example, a parser can analyze and evaluate the program code written in a programming language using a lexicon-based scanner.
How does code parsing work?
A look at the parsing process
The parsing process involves the analysis of a data stream in which the logic is defined in the source code of the parser program. A lexicographic analysis, for example, uses a scanner to evaluate the program code. Data processing is carried out by identifying individual input symbols, such as words, which are defined in a database.
Lexicographic parser analysis
This type of lexicographic parser analysis is used to analyze the data on the basis of specifications defined in a database.
To do this, the parser must treat a source file to be analyzed as a data flow of individual structure elements during data processing. This is achieved by identifying individual input symbols like words during parsing.
Parsing analysis and data structures
“Syntactic analysis and its role in error detection”
A syntactic analysis of program code enables structured data analysis. This creates a syntax tree that represents the hierarchy between the individual nodes of the tree structure. Syntax trees are important tools for checking the correct definition of data elements and thus ensuring error-free data processing.
Why is parsing software relevant?
The systematic analysis of data is an indispensable method for evaluating data quality. The source code of software also consists of a wide variety of data and can therefore be systematically analyzed.
Why is parsing relevant in software development?
The systematic analysis of data is essential in order to assess data quality. The source code of software also consists of different data and can be systematically analyzed.
Syntactic analysis of program code
A syntactic analysis of program code enables structured data analysis. A so-called syntax tree is created as a usable data structure. Syntax trees map the hierarchy between the individual nodes of the tree structure and therefore provide valuable information on the relationship between individual nodes.
Code analysis using complex data structures
Data structures such as syntax trees are regularly used by computer scientists in the further processing of data. When parsing, computer scientists primarily use such complex data structures to check whether definitions in the source code of a software program have been defined correctly. The correct definition of data elements forms the basis for error-free data processing.
This means that program code is always parsed first and therefore before the compiler performs the transformation into the machine language.
Parsing is also used outside of computer science. In linguistics, the parsing of texts is used to analyze syntax, with the help of which a sentence is broken down into its grammatical components. These individual components are referred to as syntax.
Parsing examples from software practice
The following are practical examples in which parsing is used directly or indirectly in the creation of software:
1. convenience functions in the development environment for programming software
In every programmer’s development environment, a parser takes over part of the work and provides the developer with automatic syntax correction as a convenience function. Today, almost all modern IDEs, such as IntelliJ IDEA, offer such parser-based features.
2. XML parser
XML parsers analyze XML documents and prepare the XML attributes and structure elements they contain for further processing.
3. parsing of web pages
Parsing tools integrated into the web browser, such as the popular Web Developer extension, analyze the HTML code of a website and offer corresponding developer tools on this basis. Many other tools and AddOne integrated into web browsers are also based on the parsing principle.
In all parser applications, after systematic analysis and conversion into a machine-readable language, a data structure is projected onto the user’s screen by a layout engine.
4. log file parser
Log file parsers analyze information stored in event logs, log files or other log files.
5. RSS parser and RSS feeds
RSS feeds can be converted into another data format using an RSS parser.
6. search engines and parsing
Search engines parse web pages to extract relevant lines of text from web pages and match them to search terms. Search engines use parsers to extract the relevant lines of text from websites with the help of crawlers. After the analysis, the web pages are prepared and assigned to the corresponding search terms.
Advantages of parsing
The principle of parsing can be used specifically to improve the quality of software by integrating the parser mechanisms into deployment tests; see also unit test.
Parser principles can also be used whenever the quality of data is at stake in order to create high-quality information or to present information in a special way.
The principle of parsing can therefore be used specifically to improve the quality of software and data. By integrating parser mechanisms into deployment tests and unit tests, software quality can be increased in a targeted manner. In addition, parser principles enable high-quality processing of information and special representations of data.
