Multiple Input Parsing and Lexical Analysis

Abstract

This article introduces two new approaches in the areas of lexical analysis and context-free parsing. We present an extension, MGLL, of generalised parsing which allows multiple input strings to be parsed together efficiently, and we present an enhanced approach to lexical analysis which exploits this multiple parsing capability. The work provides new power to formal language specification and disambiguation, and brings new techniques into the historically well-studied areas of lexical and syntax analysis. It encompasses character-level parsing at one extreme and the classical LEX/YACC style division at the other, allowing the advantages of both approaches.