parsable

Parsable is an adjective used in computing to describe data, text, or inputs that can be processed by a parser according to a defined formal grammar or structure. When something is parsable, a program can read it and convert it into a structured representation such as a parse tree or an abstract syntax tree, enabling further analysis or execution.

Common machine-parsable formats include JSON, XML, CSV, YAML, and INI files. These formats define syntactic rules that allow parsers to determine what tokens are present and how they relate. Some formats, like JSON and XML, have strict grammars that support deterministic parsing, while CSV can be ambiguous without careful handling of escaping and delimiters. YAML emphasizes human readability but presents greater parsing complexity in practice. Parsability is a central concern in data interchange, programming languages, configuration systems, and data pipelines.

Parsers can operate in different ways. Top-down and bottom-up parsing refer to the direction of analysis; many modern tools use recursive-descent or table-driven (LR) parsers generated by tools such as ANTLR or YACC. Streaming parsers process input incrementally, which is important for large files or real-time data, whereas full-document parsers build complete trees before use. Validation, error reporting, and schema enforcement are common features that accompany parsers to ensure input not only parses but also conforms to expected structure.

Limitations of parsability arise from underspecification, complexity of the grammar, or intentional ambiguity. In practice, designing parsable formats involves trade-offs between human readability, machine parseability, and resilience to malformed input. The concept remains foundational in compiler design, data interchange, and the construction of robust software systems.