Scala Parser Combinators

Scala Parser Combinators is a library in the Scala programming language that provides a domain-specific language (DSL) for building parsers using combinators—functions that combine smaller parsers into larger ones. It enables developers to define grammars directly in Scala code, making it easy to parse complex text formats like configuration files, domain-specific languages, or data serialization formats. The library is part of the Scala standard library but has been moved to a separate module in recent versions.

Also known as: Scala Parsers, Parser Combinators in Scala, Scala Parser Lib, Scala Combinator Parsing, scala-parser-combinators

Why learn Scala Parser Combinators?

Developers should learn Scala Parser Combinators when they need to implement custom parsers for text-based data in Scala applications, such as parsing log files, configuration languages, or custom query syntax. It is particularly useful for projects requiring flexible and maintainable parsing logic without relying on external tools like ANTLR or Bison, as it integrates seamlessly with Scala's functional programming features. Use cases include building interpreters, compilers, or data processing pipelines that involve structured text input.

Learning Resources

• docs: Scala Parser Combinators Documentation
• tutorial: Scala Parser Combinators Tutorial by Alvin Alexander
• tutorial: Parsing with Scala Parser Combinators on Baeldung
• video: Scala Parser Combinators Video Tutorial by Rock the JVM