BNF

	This is the JargonFile ^(V4.00) entry for BNF - Next: boa, Prev: blurgle
:BNF: /B-N-F/ /n./ 1. [techspeak] Acronym for Backus-Naur Form, a metasyntactic notation used to specify the syntax of programming languages, command sets, and the like. Widely used for language descriptions but seldom documented anywhere, so that it must usually be learned by osmosis from other hackers. Consider this BNF for a U.S. postal address: <postal-address> ::
* (text is auto-included via JargonExtension by mutante using jargon with VERSION 4.0.0, 24 JUL 1996* - JargonFile by Eric S. Raymond is in the public domain)*