These guys are absolutely right. To take the example further, lets say you have this math expression: 
Z=(A-(C*K))

[download]
when you parse this, it becomes 
                              =
                           /      \
                         -         Z
                       /   \
                     A      *
                           / \
                          C   K
So parsing something really is about breaking it down into its individual chunks and pieces. For instance, a parser might break your c++ program into functions, or your word into letters. If you have a whole made of parts, the parser looks at those parts. Make sense? Check out the definitions linked above, they're probably better at explaining it than I am. Hope that helped a little. PS The above is a "parse tree", certainly not the only way to parse or represent a parse. Just so you know.

In reply to Re: Parse by tshabet
in thread What does the word "parse" mean? by Anonymous Monk

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