Backus–Naur form

Formalism to describe programming languages

In computer science, Backus–Naur form or Pāṇini–Backus Form (BNF or PBF, pronounced), also known as Backus normal form, is a notation system for defining the syntax of programming languages and other formal languages, developed by John Backus and Peter Naur. It is a metasyntax for context-free grammars, providing a precise way to outline the rules of a language's structure. It has been widely used in official specifications, manuals, and textbooks on programming language theory, as well as to describe document formats, instruction sets, and communication protocols.

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