What is the purpose of a syntax tree?

A syntax tree, also known as a parse tree, is primarily used to represent the grammatical structure of code in a hierarchical manner. When source code is parsed by a compiler or interpreter, it is transformed into a syntax tree that reflects the syntactical relationships and rules defined by the programming language being used. Each node in the tree corresponds to a grammatical construct, such as an expression, statement, or declaration, and illustrates how these constructs are composed and organized within the entire program.

This structure is crucial because it allows the compiler or interpreter to understand the semantics of the code, enabling further processing like semantic analysis and code generation. The syntax tree serves as a foundation from which various optimizations and analyses can be performed, ultimately facilitating the transition from high-level code to machine-level instructions. Understanding the syntactic structure enables developers to identify errors in their code and ensures that it adheres to the prescribed language rules.