[//000000001]: # (grammar::peg \- Grammar operations and usage) [//000000002]: # (Generated from file 'peg\.man' by tcllib/doctools with format 'markdown') [//000000003]: # (Copyright © 2005 Andreas Kupries ) [//000000004]: # (grammar::peg\(n\) 0\.1 tcllib "Grammar operations and usage")

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# NAME grammar::peg \- Create and manipulate parsing expression grammars # Table Of Contents - [Table Of Contents](#toc) - [Synopsis](#synopsis) - [Description](#section1) - [TERMS & CONCEPTS](#subsection1) - [CONTAINER CLASS API](#subsection2) - [CONTAINER OBJECT API](#subsection3) - [PARSING EXPRESSIONS](#subsection4) - [PARSING EXPRESSION GRAMMARS](#section2) - [REFERENCES](#section3) - [Bugs, Ideas, Feedback](#section4) - [Keywords](#keywords) - [Category](#category) - [Copyright](#copyright) # SYNOPSIS package require Tcl 8\.4 package require snit package require grammar::peg ?0\.1? [__::grammar::peg__ *pegName* ?__=__|__:=__|__<\-\-__|__as__|__deserialize__ *src*?](#1) [*pegName* __destroy__](#2) [*pegName* __clear__](#3) [*pegName* __=__ *srcPEG*](#4) [*pegName* __\-\->__ *dstPEG*](#5) [*pegName* __serialize__](#6) [*pegName* __deserialize__ *serialization*](#7) [*pegName* __is valid__](#8) [*pegName* __start__ ?*pe*?](#9) [*pegName* __nonterminals__](#10) [*pegName* __nonterminal add__ *nt* *pe*](#11) [*pegName* __nonterminal delete__ *nt1* ?*nt2* \.\.\.?](#12) [*pegName* __nonterminal exists__ *nt*](#13) [*pegName* __nonterminal rename__ *nt* *ntnew*](#14) [*pegName* __nonterminal mode__ *nt* ?*mode*?](#15) [*pegName* __nonterminal rule__ *nt*](#16) [*pegName* __unknown nonterminals__](#17) # DESCRIPTION This package provides a container class for *parsing expression grammars* \(Short: PEG\)\. It allows the incremental definition of the grammar, its manipulation and querying of the definition\. The package neither provides complex operations on the grammar, nor has it the ability to execute a grammar definition for a stream of symbols\. Two packages related to this one are __grammar::mengine__ and __grammar::peg::interpreter__\. The first of them defines a general virtual machine for the matching of a character stream, and the second implements an interpreter for parsing expression grammars on top of that virtual machine\. ## TERMS & CONCEPTS PEGs are similar to context\-free grammars, but not equivalent; in some cases PEGs are strictly more powerful than context\-free grammars \(there exist PEGs for some non\-context\-free languages\)\. The formal mathematical definition of parsing expressions and parsing expression grammars can be found in section [PARSING EXPRESSION GRAMMARS](#section2)\. In short, we have *terminal symbols*, which are the most basic building blocks for *sentences*, and *nonterminal symbols* with associated *parsing expressions*, defining the grammatical structure of the sentences\. The two sets of symbols are distinctive, and do not overlap\. When speaking about symbols the word "symbol" is often left out\. The union of the sets of terminal and nonterminal symbols is called the set of *symbols*\. Here the set of *terminal symbols* is not explicitly managed, but implicitly defined as the set of all characters\. Note that this means that we inherit from Tcl the ability to handle all of Unicode\. A pair of *nonterminal* and *[parsing expression](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#parsing\_expression)* is also called a *grammatical rule*, or *rule* for short\. In the context of a rule the nonterminal is often called the left\-hand\-side \(LHS\), and the parsing expression the right\-hand\-side \(RHS\)\. The *start expression* of a grammar is a parsing expression from which all the sentences contained in the language specified by the grammar are *derived*\. To make the understanding of this term easier let us assume for a moment that the RHS of each rule, and the start expression, is either a sequence of symbols, or a series of alternate parsing expressions\. In the latter case the rule can be seen as a set of rules, each providing one alternative for the nonterminal\. A parsing expression A' is now a derivation of a parsing expression A if we pick one of the nonterminals N in the expression, and one of the alternative rules R for N, and then replace the nonterminal in A with the RHS of the chosen rule\. Here we can see why the terminal symbols are called such\. They cannot be expanded any further, thus terminate the process of deriving new expressions\. An example Rules (1) A <- a B c (2a) B <- d B (2b) B <- e Some derivations, using starting expression A. A -/1/-> a B c -/2a/-> a d B c -/2b/-> a d e c A derived expression containing only terminal symbols is a *sentence*\. The set of all sentences which can be derived from the start expression is the *language* of the grammar\. Some definitions for nonterminals and expressions: 1. A nonterminal A is called *reachable* if it is possible to derive a parsing expression from the start expression which contains A\. 1. A nonterminal A is called *useful* if it is possible to derive a sentence from it\. 1. A nonterminal A is called *recursive* if it is possible to derive a parsing expression from it which contains A, again\. 1. The *FIRST set* of a nonterminal A contains all the symbols which can occur of as the leftmost symbol in a parsing expression derived from A\. If the FIRST set contains A itself then that nonterminal is called *left\-recursive*\. 1. The *LAST set* of a nonterminal A contains all the symbols which can occur of as the rightmost symbol in a parsing expression derived from A\. If the LAST set contains A itself then that nonterminal is called *right\-recursive*\. 1. The *FOLLOW set* of a nonterminal A contains all the symbols which can occur after A in a parsing expression derived from the start expression\. 1. A nonterminal \(or parsing expression\) is called *nullable* if the empty sentence can be derived from it\. And based on the above definitions for grammars: 1. A grammar G is *recursive* if and only if it contains a nonterminal A which is recursive\. The terms *left\-* and *right\-recursive*, and *useful* are analogously defined\. 1. A grammar is *minimal* if it contains only *reachable* and *useful* nonterminals\. 1. A grammar is *wellformed* if it is not left\-recursive\. Such grammars are also *complete*, which means that they always succeed or fail on all input sentences\. For an incomplete grammar on the other hand input sentences exist for which an attempt to match them against the grammar will not terminate\. 1. As we wish to allow ourselves to build a grammar incrementally in a container object we will encounter stages where the RHS of one or more rules reference symbols which are not yet known to the container\. Such a grammar we call *invalid*\. We cannot use the term *incomplete* as this term is already taken, see the last item\. ## CONTAINER CLASS API The package exports the API described here\. - __::grammar::peg__ *pegName* ?__=__|__:=__|__<\-\-__|__as__|__deserialize__ *src*? The command creates a new container object for a parsing expression grammar and returns the fully qualified name of the object command as its result\. The API the returned command is following is described in the section [CONTAINER OBJECT API](#subsection3)\. It may be used to invoke various operations on the container and the grammar within\. The new container, i\.e\. grammar will be empty if no *src* is specified\. Otherwise it will contain a copy of the grammar contained in the *src*\. The *src* has to be a container object reference for all operators except __deserialize__\. The __deserialize__ operator requires *src* to be the serialization of a parsing expression grammar instead\. An empty grammar has no nonterminal symbols, and the start expression is the empty expression, i\.e\. epsilon\. It is *valid*, but not *useful*\. ## CONTAINER OBJECT API All grammar container objects provide the following methods for the manipulation of their contents: - *pegName* __destroy__ Destroys the grammar, including its storage space and associated command\. - *pegName* __clear__ Clears out the definition of the grammar contained in *pegName*, but does *not* destroy the object\. - *pegName* __=__ *srcPEG* Assigns the contents of the grammar contained in *srcPEG* to *pegName*, overwriting any existing definition\. This is the assignment operator for grammars\. It copies the grammar contained in the grammar object *srcPEG* over the grammar definition in *pegName*\. The old contents of *pegName* are deleted by this operation\. This operation is in effect equivalent to > *pegName* __deserialize__ \[*srcPEG* __serialize__\] - *pegName* __\-\->__ *dstPEG* This is the reverse assignment operator for grammars\. It copies the automation contained in the object *pegName* over the grammar definition in the object *dstPEG*\. The old contents of *dstPEG* are deleted by this operation\. This operation is in effect equivalent to > *dstPEG* __deserialize__ \[*pegName* __serialize__\] - *pegName* __serialize__ This method serializes the grammar stored in *pegName*\. In other words it returns a tcl *value* completely describing that grammar\. This allows, for example, the transfer of grammars over arbitrary channels, persistence, etc\. This method is also the basis for both the copy constructor and the assignment operator\. The result of this method has to be semantically identical over all implementations of the __grammar::peg__ interface\. This is what will enable us to copy grammars between different implementations of the same interface\. The result is a list of four elements with the following structure: 1. The constant string __grammar::peg__\. 1. A dictionary\. Its keys are the names of all known nonterminal symbols, and their associated values are the parsing expressions describing their sentennial structure\. 1. A dictionary\. Its keys are the names of all known nonterminal symbols, and their associated values hints to a matcher regarding the semantic values produced by the symbol\. 1. The last item is a parsing expression, the *start expression* of the grammar\. Assuming the following PEG for simple mathematical expressions Digit <- '0'/'1'/'2'/'3'/'4'/'5'/'6'/'7'/'8'/'9' Sign <- '+' / '-' Number <- Sign? Digit+ Expression <- '(' Expression ')' / (Factor (MulOp Factor)*) MulOp <- '*' / '/' Factor <- Term (AddOp Term)* AddOp <- '+'/'-' Term <- Number a possible serialization is grammar::peg \ {Expression {/ {x ( Expression )} {x Factor {* {x MulOp Factor}}}} \ Factor {x Term {* {x AddOp Term}}} \ Term Number \ MulOp {/ * /} \ AddOp {/ + -} \ Number {x {? Sign} {+ Digit}} \ Sign {/ + -} \ Digit {/ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9} \ } \ {Expression value Factor value \ Term value MulOp value \ AddOp value Number value \ Sign value Digit value \ } Expression A possible one, because the order of the nonterminals in the dictionary is not relevant\. - *pegName* __deserialize__ *serialization* This is the complement to __serialize__\. It replaces the grammar definition in *pegName* with the grammar described by the *serialization* value\. The old contents of *pegName* are deleted by this operation\. - *pegName* __is valid__ A predicate\. It tests whether the PEG in *pegName* is *valid*\. See section [TERMS & CONCEPTS](#subsection1) for the definition of this grammar property\. The result is a boolean value\. It will be set to __true__ if the PEG has the tested property, and __false__ otherwise\. - *pegName* __start__ ?*pe*? This method defines the *start expression* of the grammar\. It replaces the previously defined start expression with the parsing expression *pe*\. The method fails and throws an error if *pe* does not contain a valid parsing expression as specified in the section [PARSING EXPRESSIONS](#subsection4)\. In that case the existing start expression is not changed\. The method returns the empty string as its result\. If the method is called without an argument it will return the currently defined start expression\. - *pegName* __nonterminals__ Returns the set of all nonterminal symbols known to the grammar\. - *pegName* __nonterminal add__ *nt* *pe* This method adds the nonterminal *nt* and its associated parsing expression *pe* to the set of nonterminal symbols and rules of the PEG contained in the object *pegName*\. The method fails and throws an error if either the string *nt* is already known as a symbol of the grammar, or if *pe* does not contain a valid parsing expression as specified in the section [PARSING EXPRESSIONS](#subsection4)\. In that case the current set of nonterminal symbols and rules is not changed\. The method returns the empty string as its result\. - *pegName* __nonterminal delete__ *nt1* ?*nt2* \.\.\.? This method removes the named symbols *nt1*, *nt2* from the set of nonterminal symbols of the PEG contained in the object *pegName*\. The method fails and throws an error if any of the strings is not known as a nonterminal symbol\. In that case the current set of nonterminal symbols is not changed\. The method returns the empty string as its result\. The stored grammar becomes invalid if the deleted nonterminals are referenced by the RHS of still\-known rules\. - *pegName* __nonterminal exists__ *nt* A predicate\. It tests whether the nonterminal symbol *nt* is known to the PEG in *pegName*\. The result is a boolean value\. It will be set to __true__ if the symbol *nt* is known, and __false__ otherwise\. - *pegName* __nonterminal rename__ *nt* *ntnew* This method renames the nonterminal symbol *nt* to *ntnew*\. The method fails and throws an error if either *nt* is not known as a nonterminal, or if *ntnew* is a known symbol\. The method returns the empty string as its result\. - *pegName* __nonterminal mode__ *nt* ?*mode*? This mode returns or sets the semantic mode associated with the nonterminal symbol *nt*\. If no *mode* is specified the current mode of the nonterminal is returned\. Otherwise the current mode is set to *mode*\. The method fails and throws an error if *nt* is not known as a nonterminal\. The grammar interpreter implemented by the package __grammar::peg::interpreter__ recognizes the following modes: * value The semantic value of the nonterminal is the abstract syntax tree created from the AST's of the RHS and a node for the nonterminal itself\. * match The semantic value of the nonterminal is an the abstract syntax tree consisting of single a node for the string matched by the RHS\. The ASTs generated by the RHS are discarded\. * leaf The semantic value of the nonterminal is an the abstract syntax tree consisting of single a node for the nonterminal itself\. The ASTs generated by the RHS are discarded\. * discard The nonterminal has no semantic value\. The ASTs generated by the RHS are discarded \(as well\)\. - *pegName* __nonterminal rule__ *nt* This method returns the parsing expression associated with the nonterminal *nt*\. The method fails and throws an error if *nt* is not known as a nonterminal\. - *pegName* __unknown nonterminals__ This method returns a list containing the names of all nonterminal symbols which are referenced on the RHS of a grammatical rule, but have no rule definining their structure\. In other words, a list of the nonterminal symbols which make the grammar invalid\. The grammar is valid if this list is empty\. ## PARSING EXPRESSIONS Various methods of PEG container objects expect a parsing expression as their argument, or will return such\. This section specifies the format such parsing expressions are in\. 1. The string __epsilon__ is an atomic parsing expression\. It matches the empty string\. 1. The string __alnum__ is an atomic parsing expression\. It matches any alphanumeric character\. 1. The string __alpha__ is an atomic parsing expression\. It matches any alphabetical character\. 1. The string __dot__ is an atomic parsing expression\. It matches any character\. 1. The expression \[list t __x__\] is an atomic parsing expression\. It matches the terminal string __x__\. 1. The expression \[list n __A__\] is an atomic parsing expression\. It matches the nonterminal __A__\. 1. For parsing expressions __e1__, __e2__, \.\.\. the result of \[list / __e1__ __e2__ \.\.\. \] is a parsing expression as well\. This is the *ordered choice*, aka *prioritized choice*\. 1. For parsing expressions __e1__, __e2__, \.\.\. the result of \[list x __e1__ __e2__ \.\.\. \] is a parsing expression as well\. This is the *sequence*\. 1. For a parsing expression __e__ the result of \[list \* __e__\] is a parsing expression as well\. This is the *kleene closure*, describing zero or more repetitions\. 1. For a parsing expression __e__ the result of \[list \+ __e__\] is a parsing expression as well\. This is the *positive kleene closure*, describing one or more repetitions\. 1. For a parsing expression __e__ the result of \[list & __e__\] is a parsing expression as well\. This is the *and lookahead predicate*\. 1. For a parsing expression __e__ the result of \[list \! __e__\] is a parsing expression as well\. This is the *not lookahead predicate*\. 1. For a parsing expression __e__ the result of \[list ? __e__\] is a parsing expression as well\. This is the *optional input*\. Examples of parsing expressions where already shown, in the description of the method __serialize__\. # PARSING EXPRESSION GRAMMARS For the mathematically inclined, a PEG is a 4\-tuple \(VN,VT,R,eS\) where - VN is a set of *nonterminal symbols*, - VT is a set of *terminal symbols*, - R is a finite set of rules, where each rule is a pair \(A,e\), A in VN, and *[e](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#e)* a *[parsing expression](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#parsing\_expression)*\. - eS is a parsing expression, the *start expression*\. Further constraints are - The intersection of VN and VT is empty\. - For all A in VT exists exactly one pair \(A,e\) in R\. In other words, R is a function from nonterminal symbols to parsing expressions\. Parsing expression are inductively defined via - The empty string \(epsilon\) is a parsing expression\. - A terminal symbol *a* is a parsing expression\. - A nonterminal symbol *A* is a parsing expression\. - *e1**e2* is a parsing expression for parsing expressions *e1* and *2*\. This is called *sequence*\. - *e1*/*e2* is a parsing expression for parsing expressions *e1* and *2*\. This is called *ordered choice*\. - *[e](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#e)*\* is a parsing expression for parsing expression *[e](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#e)*\. This is called *zero\-or\-more repetitions*, also known as *kleene closure*\. - *[e](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#e)*\+ is a parsing expression for parsing expression *[e](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#e)*\. This is called *one\-or\-more repetitions*, also known as *positive kleene closure*\. - \!*[e](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#e)* is a parsing expression for parsing expression *e1*\. This is called a *not lookahead predicate*\. - &*[e](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#e)* is a parsing expression for parsing expression *e1*\. This is called an *and lookahead predicate*\. PEGs are used to define a grammatical structure for streams of symbols over VT\. They are a modern phrasing of older formalisms invented by Alexander Birham\. These formalisms were called TS \(TMG recognition scheme\), and gTS \(generalized TS\)\. Later they were renamed to TPDL \(Top\-Down Parsing Languages\) and gTPDL \(generalized TPDL\)\. They can be easily implemented by recursive descent parsers with backtracking\. This makes them relatives of LL\(k\) Context\-Free Grammars\. # REFERENCES 1. [The Packrat Parsing and Parsing Expression Grammars Page](http://www\.pdos\.lcs\.mit\.edu/~baford/packrat/), by Bryan Ford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology\. This is the main entry page to PEGs, and their realization through Packrat Parsers\. 1. [Parsing Techniques \- A Practical Guide ](http://www\.cs\.vu\.nl/~dick/PTAPG\.html), an online book offering a clear, accessible, and thorough discussion of many different parsing techniques with their interrelations and applicabilities, including error recovery techniques\. 1. [Compilers and Compiler Generators](http://scifac\.ru\.ac\.za/compilers/), an online book using CoCo/R, a generator for recursive descent parsers\. # Bugs, Ideas, Feedback This document, and the package it describes, will undoubtedly contain bugs and other problems\. Please report such in the category *grammar\_peg* of the [Tcllib Trackers](http://core\.tcl\.tk/tcllib/reportlist)\. Please also report any ideas for enhancements you may have for either package and/or documentation\. When proposing code changes, please provide *unified diffs*, i\.e the output of __diff \-u__\. Note further that *attachments* are strongly preferred over inlined patches\. Attachments can be made by going to the __Edit__ form of the ticket immediately after its creation, and then using the left\-most button in the secondary navigation bar\. # KEYWORDS [LL\(k\)](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#ll\_k\_), [TDPL](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#tdpl), [context\-free languages](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#context\_free\_languages), [expression](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#expression), [grammar](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#grammar), [parsing](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#parsing), [parsing expression](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#parsing\_expression), [parsing expression grammar](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#parsing\_expression\_grammar), [push down automaton](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#push\_down\_automaton), [recursive descent](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#recursive\_descent), [state](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#state), [top\-down parsing languages](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#top\_down\_parsing\_languages), [transducer](\.\./\.\./\.\./\.\./index\.md\#transducer) # CATEGORY Grammars and finite automata # COPYRIGHT Copyright © 2005 Andreas Kupries