Abstract Syntax Tree vs Parse Tree
Factor | Abstract Syntax Tree | Parse Tree |
---|---|---|
Structure | An AST is composed of symbols, such as operators, identifiers, and keywords. These symbols are organized in a tree structure. | A parse tree is composed of tokens, such as terminal and non-terminal symbols. These tokens are organized in a tree structure. |
Representation | An AST is represented using a standard tree structure, with each node representing a particular symbol or rule. | A parse tree is represented using a graph structure, with each node representing a particular token or rule. |
Generation | An AST is generated by the compiler from the source code. | A parse tree is generated by the parser from the source code. |
Usage | An AST is used to analyze the source code and optimize it for compilation. | A parse tree is used to check the syntactic correctness of the source code. |
Expressiveness | An AST is more expressive than a parse tree, as it provides more information about the source code. | A parse tree is less expressive than an AST, as it only provides basic information about the source code. |
Efficiency | An AST is more efficient than a parse tree, as it requires fewer operations to generate. | A parse tree is less efficient than an AST, as it requires more operations to generate. |
Size | An AST is smaller than a parse tree, as it contains fewer symbols. | A parse tree is larger than an AST, as it contains more tokens. |
Complexity | An AST is simpler than a parse tree, as it is generated from fewer operations. | A parse tree is more complex than an AST, as it is generated from more operations. |
Comprehension | An AST is easier to comprehend than a parse tree, as it contains more information about the source code. | A parse tree is harder to comprehend than an AST, as it contains less information about the source code. |
Abstract Syntax Tree vs Parse Tree
Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs) and Parse Trees (PTs) are two fundamental concepts in computer science and software engineering. Understanding the differences between them is essential for writing efficient and robust code. This blog post will look at both ASTs and PTs and compare their main features.
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