language element |
| | Plain computer font indicates an element that you must type exactly as shown. If there are special symbols (for example, + or &), you must also type them exactly as shown. |
| placeholder | Italic text indicates a placeholder that you must replace with an appropriate value. (In some programming languages, placeholders are called nonterminals.) |
[optional] | Brackets indicate that the enclosed language element or elements are optional. |
(a group) | Parentheses group together elements. If parentheses are part of the syntax, they are shown in bold. |
(a group). . . | Three ellipsis points (. . .) after a group defined by parentheses indicate that you can repeat the group of elements within parentheses one or more times. |
[optional]... | Three ellipsis points (. . .) after a group defined by brackets indicate that you can repeat the group of elements within brackets 0 or more times. |
| a | b | c | Vertical bars separate elements in a group from which you must choose a single element. The elements are often grouped within parentheses or brackets. |