Syntax and Building Blocks of a Programming Language

The foundation of a programming language

Just as human languages have grammar to dictate the rules of the language, a programming language has syntax. The syntax of a programming language is the rules for how we write a program using a language. There is one big difference between grammar and syntax and that is the forgiveness for errors. If you meet someone who speaks a language you know but makes some errors here and there, you will still be able to understand what that person is trying to communicate to you, and vice versa. This is not the case for the syntax of a programming language, where accuracy is crucial: