What is the meaning of an expression?

From	Christopher F Clark <christopher.f.clark@compiler-resources.com>
Newsgroups	comp.compilers
Subject	What is the meaning of an expression?
Date	2022-01-14 22:42 +0200
Organization	Compilers Central
Message-ID	<22-01-054@comp.compilers> (permalink)

Show all headers | View raw

I wouldn't use either of the statements in a compiler construction context:

The meaning of an expression is the value of an expression.
The semantics of an expression is the value of an expression.

Although if I had to imagine using one of those two sentences, I could
vaguely imagine using the former? As in "what does 1 + 1 mean?" It
means "add one and one together, the answer being two". But, even in
that case, I wouldn't make it a blanket statement. You have to
contrive an example where you would use a statement like that and it
isn't particularly natural. Most importantly, it isn't something
general.

This is as close as I can imagine coming:
"In a value oriented language, the meaning of an expression is the
value of an expression".

So, I heartily agree with our esteemed moderator.  Don't believe
everything you read.
--
******************************************************************************
Chris Clark                  email: christopher.f.clark@compiler-resources.com
Compiler Resources, Inc.  Web Site: http://world.std.com/~compres
23 Bailey Rd                 voice: (508) 435-5016
Berlin, MA  01503 USA      twitter: @intel_chris
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to comp.compilers | Previous | Next | Find similar

Thread

What is the meaning of an expression? Christopher F Clark <christopher.f.clark@compiler-resources.com> - 2022-01-14 22:42 +0200

csiph-web