Lexical Analyzer
A lexical analyzer, also known as a lexer or scanner, is a software component that processes the input source code of a programming language by breaking it down into a sequence of tokens. It performs lexical analysis, the first phase of compilation, by identifying and categorizing strings of characters into meaningful units such as keywords, identifiers, operators, and literals. This process helps in simplifying the subsequent parsing stage by converting raw text into a structured format.
Developers should learn about lexical analyzers when working on compilers, interpreters, or any tool that processes structured text, such as configuration files or domain-specific languages. It is essential for understanding how programming languages are implemented, enabling the creation of custom parsers or syntax highlighters. Mastery of lexical analysis is crucial for tasks like code linting, static analysis, and building language processing tools.