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 expanded, enabling the generation of strings in a language. CFGs are fundamental for parsing, compiler design, and natural language processing, as they allow for the systematic analysis of syntactic structures.
Developers should learn context-free grammars when working on compiler construction, interpreter development, or tools that involve parsing complex text formats like JSON, XML, or custom domain-specific languages. They are essential for implementing syntax analysis in programming language interpreters and compilers, as well as in natural language processing applications where understanding sentence structure is required. Mastery of CFGs helps in designing efficient parsers and understanding formal language theory.