programming language theory

Programming language theory explores the principles and models behind how languages communicate instructions to computers. It examines how languages are designed, their structure, and how they can be understood and processed by machines. This includes understanding syntax (rules for writing code), semantics (meaning of code), and formal systems that ensure correctness and efficiency. The goal is to create languages that are expressive, reliable, and efficient to work with, while also enabling compilers and interpreters to translate human instructions into machine actions accurately. In essence, it’s the foundational science behind making programming languages effective tools for software development.