Formal Languages Questions Medium
In the context of formal languages, an ambiguous grammar and an unambiguous grammar refer to two different types of grammars that generate a language.
An ambiguous grammar is a type of grammar where there exists at least one string in the language that can be derived by more than one parse tree. In other words, there are multiple ways to derive the same string using different production rules or sequences of rules. This ambiguity can lead to different interpretations or meanings for the same string, causing confusion or ambiguity in the language. Ambiguous grammars are generally considered undesirable as they can make it difficult to determine the intended meaning of a given string.
On the other hand, an unambiguous grammar is a type of grammar where every string in the language can be derived by exactly one parse tree. In other words, there is a unique and deterministic way to derive each string using the production rules of the grammar. Unambiguous grammars ensure that each string has a single, well-defined meaning, making it easier to understand and interpret the language.
To summarize, the main difference between an ambiguous grammar and an unambiguous grammar lies in the number of parse trees that can derive a particular string. Ambiguous grammars allow for multiple parse trees, leading to potential confusion or ambiguity in the language, while unambiguous grammars ensure a unique parse tree for each string, providing clarity and a single interpretation.