The type of parser implemented is called a recursive-descent parser with backtracking.
Some parts of the grammar are not suitable for parsing by recursive descent,
because they are not left-factored. Consider the following example where both
productions share the common prefix test:
argument: test [comp_for] | test '=' test
The issue with this production is that the recursive-descent parser could go
down the first path, return with a success and never consider the second path.
We can left-factor the grammar by making a new nonterminal option to
represent the two alternatives for the symbols following the common prefix:
argument: test option option: ε | comp_for | '=' test
..where ε denotes the empty string. This production is now suitable for the recursive-descent parser.
- Eliminating Ambiguities http://ycpcs.github.io/cs340-fall2015/lectures/lecture05.html
.. disqus:: pycep parser