Syntax-Directed Semantics in Programming Language Design

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@article{1716556,
      author = {Bukar Aisha, Ganiyu Idris Olamide, Adolphus Miracle Oluebube, Onibiyo Joshua Toluse},
      title = {Syntax-Directed Semantics in Programming Language Design},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2026},
      volume = {9},
      number = {10},
      pages = {2255-2266},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1716556.pdf},
      abstract = {Programming languages rely on a delicate balance between syntax and semantics to ensure correct, efficient, and predictable execution. While syntax defines the structural rules governing valid programs, semantics determines how those programs behave during execution. This paper argues that the efficiency and reliability of a programming language depend on a tight coupling between its context-free grammar and its operational semantics. By examining Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs), static and dynamic semantics, and the role of type systems, this paper demonstrates how syntax-directed approaches enable early error detection, improved optimization, and stronger guarantees of correctness. The discussion highlights how modern language design increasingly relies on integrating syntactic constraints with semantic enforcement to reduce ambiguity and runtime failures.},
      month = {April},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1716556}
  }