| Original author(s) | Mike Lesk, Eric Schmidt |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 1975 |
| Repository | |
| Written in | C |
| Operating system | Unix, Unix-like, Plan 9 |
| Platform | Cross-platform |
| Type | Command |
| License | Plan 9: MIT License |
Lex is a computer program that generates lexical analyzers ("scanners" or "lexers").[1][2] It is commonly used with the yacc parser generator and is the standard lexical analyzer generator on many Unix and Unix-like systems. An equivalent tool is specified as part of the POSIX standard.[3]
Lex reads an input stream specifying the lexical analyzer and writes source code which implements the lexical analyzer in the C programming language.
In addition to C, some old versions of Lex could generate a lexer in Ratfor.[4]
- ^ Levine, John R.; Mason, Tony; Brown, Doug (1992). lex & yacc (2 ed.). O'Reilly. pp. 1–2. ISBN 1-56592-000-7.
- ^ Levine, John (August 2009). flex & bison. O'Reilly Media. p. 304. ISBN 978-0-596-15597-1.
- ^ The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 7, 2018 edition § Shell & Utilities § Utilities § lex
- ^ John R. Levine; John Mason; Doug Brown (1992). Lex & Yacc. O'Reilly. ISBN 9781565920002.