parsingParseResult

parsingParseResult is a term used to describe the outcome of a parsing operation in many parsing libraries and frameworks. It encapsulates whether a parse succeeded, the value produced when successful, any remaining unconsumed input, and diagnostic information such as error messages or position indices. This standardized result object helps separate the parsing logic from error handling and control flow.

Typical fields found in a parsingParseResult include a success or status indicator, the parsed value (if any), the remaining input after the parse, the current position or index within the input, and a collection of errors or messages. Some implementations also carry metadata such as the number of characters consumed, a reference to the original input, or user-defined context data.

Usage involves returning a parsingParseResult from a parser function or combinator. Callers examine the status to determine the next step: on success, they extract the value and continue parsing with the remaining input; on failure, they inspect error information to report problems, backtrack, or try alternative parsers. This pattern supports composability, as parsers can be chained or combined while preserving a consistent method for handling results and errors.

Common design choices include representing the result as a discriminated union or class, using language-provided Result or Either types, and providing utility methods to map, bind, or flatten results. Proper use emphasizes clear error reporting, predictable handling of partial input, and robust propagation of failures through the parsing pipeline.

See also: parse combinators, parse result, error reporting, backtracking parsers.