| title | Document conventions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ms.date | 08/29/2019 | ||
| helpviewer_keywords |
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| ms.assetid | 469ce448-dc6c-4d0e-ba2b-e2e7a10155e1 |
The conventions use different font attributes for different components of the syntax. The symbols and fonts are as follows:
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| nonterminal | Italic type indicates nonterminals. |
| #include | Terminals in bold type are literal reserved words and symbols that must be entered as shown. Characters in this context are always case sensitive. |
| opt | Nonterminals followed by opt are always optional. |
| default typeface | Characters in the set described or listed in this typeface can be used as terminals in statements. |
A colon (:) following a nonterminal introduces its definition. Alternative definitions are listed on separate lines.
In code syntax blocks, these symbols in the default typeface have a special meaning:
| Symbol | Description |
|---|---|
| [ ] | Square brackets surround an optional element. |
| { | } | Curly braces surround alternative elements, separated by vertical bars. |
| ... | Indicates the previous element pattern can be repeated. |
In code syntax blocks, commas (,), periods (.), semi-colons (;), colons (:), parentheses (( )), double-quotes ("), and single-quotes (') are literals.