Difference Between Syntax and Semantics (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 10 Jun, 2024

**Syntax:

• It refers to the rules and regulations for writing any statement in a programming language like C/C++.
• It does not have to do anything with the meaning of the statement.
• A statement is syntactically valid if it follows all the rules.
• It is related to the grammar and structure of the language.

**Semantics:

• It refers to the meaning associated with the statement in a programming language.
• It is all about the meaning of the statement which interprets the program easily.
• Errors are handled at runtime.

**Program 1:
Below is the code to demonstrate the semantic error:

C++ `

// C++ program to demonstrate semantic error

#include using namespace std;

// Driver Code int main() { // Return statement before cout return 0;

// Print the value
cout << "GFG!";

}

Java

// Java program to demonstrate semantic error import java.util.*; class GFG {

// Driver Code public static void main(String[] args) {

// exit() statement before cout

System.exit(0);

// Print the value
System.out.print("GFG!");

} }

// This code is contributed by aashish1995

Python

Python program to demonstrate semantic error

import sys

Driver Code

if name == 'main':

# exit() statement before cout
sys.exit(0);

# Print the value
print("GFG!");

This code is contributed by gauravrajput1

C#

// C# program to demonstrate semantic error using System;

class GFG {

// Driver Code public static void Main(String[] args) {

// exit() statement before cout
Environment.Exit(0);

// Print the value
Console.Write("GFG!");

} }

// This code is contributed by gauravrajput1

JavaScript

`

**Explanation:

• The output will be blank because the above program is **semantically incorrect syntax.
• This program has no syntax error as it is following every programming rule but still, it will not print anything on the screen because the return statement is written before the cout statement which causes the program to terminate before printing anything on the screen. This type of situation is considered a **semantic error.

**Program 2:
Below is the correct code i.e, without any syntax and semantic errors.

C++ `

// C++ program to demonstrate basic operation // without any syntax and semantic error

#include using namespace std;

// Driver Code int main() {

// To print gfg
cout << "GFG!";

return 0;

}

Java

// Java program to demonstrate basic operation // without any syntax and semantic error class GFG{

// Driver Code public static void main(String[] args) {

// To print gfg
System.out.print("GFG!");

} }

// This code is contributed by aashish1995

Python

Python3 program to demonstrate basic operation

without any syntax and semantic error

To print gfg

print("GFG!")

This code is contributed by divyeshrabadiya07.

C#

// C# program to demonstrate basic operation // without any syntax and semantic error using System;

public class GFG {

// Driver Code public static void Main(String[] args) {

// To print gfg
Console.Write("GFG!");

} }

// This code contributed by Rajput-Ji

JavaScript

`

Tabular Difference between Syntax and Semantic Error: