syntax checker
- noun
- /ˈsɪn.tæks ˈtʃɛk.ər/
- Specialized
- Using a syntax checker helped the programmer find errors in the script before running it.
Examples
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Vladimir Slepnev: But it would be even nicer to have a separate syntax checker that would watch the filesystem; I save the file in my favorite editor, and a separate window shows me the list of syntax errors.
Blog text (8) -
But it would be even nicer to have a separate syntax checker that would watch the filesystem; I save the file in my favorite editor, and a separate window shows me the list of syntax errors.
Blog text (8) -
The syntax checker quickly identified the missing semicolon in my code.
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Many modern text editors come with a built-in syntax checker to streamline coding.
Synonyms
A computer program that finds mistakes in other programs' code
How Thorough
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'syntax' (rules of sentence or code structure) + 'checker' (an agent or tool that examines for errors) yields a device or program that checks syntax. This noun+noun agent pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Syntax checker comes from the two parts syntax (the order and rules of words) and checker (something that looks for problems). So imagine a helper that finds wrong word order or rule mistakes in a sentence — that's why it means 'a program that finds syntax errors'.