Parsing Data

Parsing is a process of breaking down and large amounts of data into specific formats to allow for easier storage and later processing. Data parsing is an important element in handling Metadata.

Parsing Data
Parsing, is also know as syntax analysis, is the process of breaking down data into discrete syntactical categories. The syntax used to define these categories or groups is defined by the language being used by the data. Breaking the data down into more categories allow for faster sorting and more effective searches.

Grammar
Grammars are used to describe the structure and format of a language. This could be phrased as a way to take an infinite number of language options display them in a finite way. There are two forms of grammar in the context of parsing, Context-free and Context-sensitive.

Context-free Grammar
Context-free grammars are used to describe language that can be created without context from non-terminal elements.

Context-sensitive Grammar
Context-sensitive grammars are used to describe cases where the context of non-terminal and terminal elements effect each other.

Top-down Parsing
Starting with the start symbol the parser then moves the replacing the left most non-terminal element with the sentential form.

Bottom-up Parsing
Starting with the data it moves and tries to reduce to the start symbol.

Assertions
Assertions are not mandatory when it comes to parsing, but it is highly suggested to improve the quality and ease of debugging for parsing information. An assertion is a Boolean code that should remain true as long as the function is work, but if it returns the false their is a bug.