[Python-Dev] [Python-3000] Pre-pre PEP for 'super' keyword (original) (raw)

Steve Holden steve at holdenweb.com
Fri May 4 20:34:57 CEST 2007

Tristan Seligmann wrote:

* Guido van Rossum <guido at python.org> [2007-04-29 18:19:20 -0700]:

In my mind, 'if' and 'or' are "syntax", whereas things like 'None' or 'True' are "values"; even if None becomes an actual keyword, rather than a builtin. I'm sorry, but that is such an incredibly subjective difference that I can't do anything with it. String literals and numeric literals are syntax too, even though they are values. A keyword, or reserved word, is simply something that looks like an identifier but is converted into a different token (by the lexer or by something sitting between the lexer and the parse) before the parser sees it. Let me try a less subjective description. Things like None, 2.3, 'foo', True are values or "expressions"; I'm not certain exactly what the term for these is in Python's grammar, but I basically mean something that can be on the RHS of an assignment.. However, something like 'for' or 'if' is part of some other grammatical construct, generally a statement or operator of some kind, so I tend to think of those differently. How about "a keyword is an identifier that appears as a literal in the grammar"?

regards Steve

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