ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the manipulations and processing methods required for evaluating algebraic equations, usually called equation parsing. Numerical parsing operations are useful in the development of many types of mathematical routines often found in graphics, scientific, financial, and engineering applications, and in the processing performed by language compilers and interpreters. One of the most difficult programming tasks in developing a language compiler or interpreter is coding the parser. A parser can be considered an expert system on the grammar and syntax of the particular language. Mak states that “The brain of the compiler is the parser.” In the dynamics of language compilation and interpretation, the parser receives data from a software element called the scanner. Typically a full-fledged parser, as used in a language compiler or interpreter, creates and manages a data structure that collects and stores all necessary information regarding the identifiers present in the program.
