How should I read the syntax descriptions in the JLS?

StackOverflow https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7238623

  •  16-01-2021
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Question

From the Java Language Specification (third edition), section 3.10.5:

StringLiteral:
        " StringCharactersopt "

StringCharacters:
        StringCharacter
        StringCharacters StringCharacter

StringCharacter:
        InputCharacter but not " or \
        EscapeSequence

Can someone please help me understand this syntax pattern? What could xx: " xxxopt" mean?

Was it helpful?

Solution

It means a StringLiteral is a double-quote, an optional StringCharacters token, and a double quote. "opt" means optional.

StringCharacters is defined as one or more StringCharacter tokens.

StringCharacter is either an InputCharacter (defined elsewhere) except for a double-quote or a backslach; or an EscapeSequence (also defined elsewhere)

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