Context-Free Grammar
A context-free grammar (CFG) is a formal grammar used in computer science and linguistics to describe the syntax of programming languages, natural languages, and other structured data. It consists of a set of production rules that define how symbols can be replaced or rewritten, typically used for parsing and generating strings in a language. CFGs are fundamental in compiler design, natural language processing, and formal language theory.
Developers should learn context-free grammars when working on compilers, interpreters, or parsers for programming languages, configuration files, or domain-specific languages (DSLs), as they provide a rigorous framework for defining syntax. They are essential for implementing syntax analysis (parsing) in tools like lexers and parsers (e.g., using Yacc or ANTLR), and for understanding formal language concepts in computational theory.