Constructing SLR Parsing Tables (Simple LR) - 6.4 | Module 3: Syntax Analysis (Parsing) | Compiler Design /Construction
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6.4 - Constructing SLR Parsing Tables (Simple LR)

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Interactive Audio Lesson

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Introduction to SLR Parsing

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we' re diving into SLR parsing, which stands for Simple LR parsing. It's an extension of the LR parsing family that employs FOLLOW sets in its parsing tables. Can anyone explain what a parser does in a compiler?

Student 1
Student 1

A parser checks if the input tokens form a valid sentence according to the grammar.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! And SLR parsing enhances the LR(0) parsers by adding another layer for decision-making, right? Who can tell me what the two main components of the SLR parsing table are?

Student 2
Student 2

The ACTION table and the GOTO table, right?

Teacher
Teacher

That's correct! The ACTION table involves the parser's current actions based on states and terminals, while the GOTO table guides transitions between states after a reduction. Let's explore how these tables are constructed!

Building the ACTION Table

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Teacher
Teacher

To build the ACTION table, we define shift actions where the parser pushes terminals onto the stack. Can anyone share an example of a shift action?

Student 3
Student 3

If we see an item like A -> Ξ±.aΞ², we shift the terminal 'a' onto the stack, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! You're right! It’s also crucial to define reduce actions. What can you tell me about how reduce actions work?

Student 4
Student 4

Reduce actions check if the right-hand side of a production rule has been fully matched before reducing it. They also use FOLLOW sets to determine if it's valid.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! FOLLOW sets help identify the terminals that can legally appear after a non-terminal. This is key in ensuring we don’t make invalid reductions.

Understanding GOTO Table

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Teacher
Teacher

Now let’s talk about the GOTO table. Who can explain its purpose and how it's constructed?

Student 1
Student 1

The GOTO table tells us the next state after reducing a sequence of symbols in the stack.

Teacher
Teacher

That's a good point! The transition is crucial as it maintains the continuity of parsing. Can anyone give an example of how we might fill a GOTO entry?

Student 2
Student 2

If we had GOTO(I_i, A) leading to state I_j, we’d fill GOTO[i, A] = j.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Properly managing these transitions helps the parser navigate its state effectively.

Resolving Parsing Conflicts

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Teacher
Teacher

An important part of constructing SLR tables is monitoring for conflicts. Can someone explain the difference between shift/reduce and reduce/reduce conflicts?

Student 3
Student 3

A shift/reduce conflict happens when a state suggests we could either shift a terminal or reduce a non-terminal based on the same terminal.

Student 4
Student 4

And a reduce/reduce conflict occurs when there are multiple possible reductions in the same state simultaneously.

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent! Recognizing these conflicts tells us whether our grammar conforms to SLR(1), meaning no conflicts exist.

Summary and Recap

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's recap what we've learned about SLR parsing. Who can outline the key components?

Student 1
Student 1

We discussed ACTION and GOTO tables, and how they are constructed.

Student 2
Student 2

And we learned about the importance of FOLLOW sets and resolving parsing conflicts.

Teacher
Teacher

Great job! Remember that constructing SLR parsing tables is essential for creating efficient parsers in compilers!

Introduction & Overview

Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.

Quick Overview

This section discusses the construction of SLR parsing tables, which enhance LR(0) parsers by incorporating FOLLOW sets to resolve ambiguities.

Standard

The section delves into the structure and construction of SLR parsing tables, detailing how both ACTION and GOTO tables are created. It highlights the importance of FOLLOW sets in determining actions for reductions in parsing. The section explains the rules and conditions for successful SLR parsing, including common conflicts that may arise.

Detailed

Constructing SLR Parsing Tables (Simple LR)

SLR (Simple LR) parsing is a widely utilized bottom-up parsing technique that builds on LR(0) parsers by incorporating FOLLOW sets, which help in making informed decisions on reductions during parsing operations. This section focuses on the following key aspects:

1. SLR Parsing Table Structure

SLR parsing tables consist of two main components:
- ACTION Table: Dictates the parser’s action based on the current state and next input terminal. Actions include shift, reduce, accept, and error conditions.
- GOTO Table: Determines the next state after a reduction, guiding the parser’s progress.

2. Constructing the ACTION Table

  • Shift Actions: Generated from the items in LR(0) sets, specifying when the parser should push terminals onto its stack.
  • Reduce Actions: For items that completely match right-hand sides of the productions, utilizing the FOLLOW sets to determine legality for specific terminals that can follow the non-terminals in reductions.
  • Accept Action: Identifies successful parsing when the start symbol is recognized in conjunction with an empty input buffer.

3. Constructing the GOTO Table

The GOTO table entries are determined from states and non-terminals that the parser may transition to following reductions. This simplifies understanding of parser operations and potential new states.

4. Handling SLR Conflicts

The ability to construct a conflict-free SLR parsing table is crucial. Conflicts can arise in two forms:
- Shift/Reduce Conflict: Occurs when the same state suggests both a shift and a reduction based on FOLLOW sets, causing ambiguity.
- Reduce/Reduce Conflict: Emerges when multiple reductions could apply simultaneously in a state.

Understanding and constructing SLR parsing tables allows for robust and efficient parsing in compilers, making it essential for students and practitioners of compiler design.

Audio Book

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Introduction to SLR Parsing

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SLR (Simple LR) parsing is a practical and widely used bottom-up parsing technique. It leverages the LR(0) sets of items but adds a crucial element for making reduce decisions: the FOLLOW set. This "lookahead" helps resolve some ambiguities that LR(0) alone cannot.

Detailed Explanation

SLR parsing builds upon the basic concepts of LR(0) parsing by introducing the FOLLOW set, which enhances the parser's ability to make decisions when reducing items on the stack. The aim is to make the parser more efficient in recognizing valid syntax structures in programming languages, while also providing strategies to handle common parsing conflicts.

Examples & Analogies

Think of SLR parsing like a traffic director at an intersection. The traffic director observes the flow of cars (tokens) and uses known traffic signals (FOLLOW sets) to determine when to stop or allow cars to pass. Just like a director resolves ambiguity in traffic flow, SLR parsing resolves ambiguities in grammar parsing.

SLR Parsing Table Structure

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The table has two main parts:
- ACTION Table: This part dictates the parser's action based on the current state (row index) and the next input terminal (column index).
- GOTO Table: This part dictates the parser's next state after a reduction.

Detailed Explanation

The SLR parsing table is critical for guiding the parser on how to read and interpret input according to grammar rules. The ACTION table specifies whether to shift tokens, reduce recognized patterns, accept an input as valid, or indicate a syntax error. The GOTO table helps navigate to the next processing state based on successful reductions.

Examples & Analogies

Consider a grocery list as an analogy. The ACTION table is akin to checking items off your list as you shopβ€”if you find an item (shift), you check it off (reduce), and once you've successfully completed the list (accept), you’re done. The GOTO table would be like moving to the next section of the store after finishing one, helping you know where to go next based on what you have already checked off.

Rules for Constructing SLR Parsing Table Entries

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  • Shift Actions: For each state I_i in the LR(0) item collection: If A -> Ξ± . aΞ² is an item in I_i and GOTO(I_i, a) leads to state I_j: Then, set ACTION[i, a] = shift j.
  • Reduce Actions: For every state, if A -> Ξ± . is an item in I_i: Then, for every terminal b in FOLLOW(A): Set ACTION[i, b] = reduce A -> Ξ±.
  • Accept Action: If S' -> S . is an item in state I_i: Then, set ACTION[i, $] = accept.
  • GOTO Actions: For each state I_i in the LR(0) item collection: If GOTO(I_i, A) leads to state I_j: Then, set GOTO[i, A] = j.

Detailed Explanation

This section outlines the specific procedures for filling in the ACTION and GOTO tables of the SLR parser. It describes how to determine when to shift input to the stack, when to reduce a sequence on the stack to a non-terminal, and how to handle the acceptance of a successfully parsed input. Understanding these rules is essential for constructing a functioning SLR parser that can handle a range of programming language constructs efficiently.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine conducting an orchestra. The shift action is like signaling musicians to start playing a new note (shift), reducing is similar to an orchestra section ending a piece (reduce), accepting is akin to signaling the audience that the concert is done (accept), and GOTO instructions are like conducting the flow of music from one segment to another seamlessly (GOTO). Each action is intentional and guides the performance towards harmony.

SLR Conflicts

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A grammar is SLR(1) if and only if the SLR parsing table contains no conflicts. If a cell in the ACTION table needs to be filled with more than one action, it's a conflict:
- Shift/Reduce Conflict: If a state contains both an item A -> Ξ± . aΞ² (suggesting a shift) and an item B -> Ξ³ . (suggesting a reduce), the parser cannot decide.
- Reduce/Reduce Conflict: Occurs if a state contains two reduce items.

Detailed Explanation

SLR conflicts indicate situations where the parser cannot make a clear decision based on the current state and the next input token. Shift/Reduce conflicts arise when a situation allows for both shifting and reducing; the parser must decide which course to take. Reduce/Reduce conflicts occur when there are multiple valid reductions possible, complicating parsing decisions. Identifying and resolving these conflicts is essential for an effective SLR parser, ensuring it accurately interprets the input without ambiguity.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a busy restaurant with two chefs. If both chefs (rules) want to add sauce (reduce) to the same dish at the same time (shift/reduce conflict), it creates chaos in the kitchen. The managers (SLR parser) need to ensure only one chef can proceed with the sauce to avoid a culinary disaster. This is much like ensuring no conflicts arise in a parser’s decision-making process.

Generating a Parser Using Parser Generators

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Manually constructing LR parsing tables is tedious and error-prone. This is where parser generators come in, such as YACC/Bison, which generate LALR(1) parsers, making the process efficient.

Detailed Explanation

Parser generators automate the labor-intensive process of creating parsing tables, making it easier for developers to build compilers without getting bogged down in the details of parsing. By providing a grammar specification file, developers can utilize these tools to create robust parsers efficiently, reducing the likelihood of human error and significantly speeding up the development process.

Examples & Analogies

Using a parser generator can be likened to using a recipe book for a complex dish. Instead of figuring out each ingredient and measurement yourself (manual parsing), you follow the recipe steps (parser generator). This makes baking a complex cake much easier and more reliable than trying to remember every detail, ensuring that the end result is consistently satisfying and correct.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • SLR Parsing: An extension of LR parsing that uses FOLLOW sets to resolve ambiguities.

  • Construction of ACTION Table: Involves defining shift and reduce actions based on state and terminal comparisons.

  • GOTO Table Functionality: Maps reductions to new parser states to maintain continuity.

  • SLR Conflicts: Important to recognize shift/reduce and reduce/reduce conflicts for effective parsing.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • Example of an ACTION table entry for shift: If the current state has item A β†’ Ξ±.aΞ², then ACTION[state, a] = shift j.

  • Example of a GOTO table entry: If GOTO(I_i, A) leads to state I_j, then GOTO[i, A] = j.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎡 Rhymes Time

  • In parsing SLR for a show, ACTION and GOTO make it flow.

πŸ“– Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a parser as a travel guide who always checks the next destination based on where they are. The GOTO table tells them where to go next!

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Use 'AGGO' to remember: Always GOTO after grammar operations in parsing!

🎯 Super Acronyms

SLR - Simple Lexer Relations

  • Simple parsing through states and FOLLOW decisions.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: ACTION Table

    Definition:

    A component of SLR parsing tables, dictating what action (shift, reduce, accept, error) the parser should take based on the current state and next token.

  • Term: GOTO Table

    Definition:

    A part of SLR parsing tables that determines the next state of the parser after the current sequence has been reduced.

  • Term: FOLLOW Set

    Definition:

    A set that contains terminals which can legally follow a non-terminal in valid sentential forms, essential for making reduction decisions in parsing.

  • Term: Shift/Reduce Conflict

    Definition:

    A situation in parsing where a state allows both a shift and a reduction on the same terminal, creating ambiguity.

  • Term: Reduce/Reduce Conflict

    Definition:

    A scenario where a parser state contains multiple reduction options for the same input, leading to confusion on which rule to apply.