Expression (programming)

Expression (programming)

An expression in a programming language is a combination of values, variables, operators, and functions that are interpreted ("evaluated") according to the particular rules of precedence and of association for a particular programming language, which computes and then produces ("returns", in a stateful environment) another value. The expression is said to "evaluate to" that value. As in mathematics, the expression "is" (or can be said to "have") its evaluated value; the expression is a representation of that value.

Expressions may or may not have side effects. An expression with side effects does not normally have the property of referential transparency.

ee also

* Statement (programming) (contrast)
* Boolean expression
* Expression (mathematics)
* evaluation strategy

References

* [http://ftp.sunet.se/foldoc/foldoc.cgi?expression Expression] in The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, Editor Denis Howe.


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