A
DataFormat is a formal language for the representation of information. Unlike
ProgrammingLanguages,
DataFormats don't specify computations.
Examples of data formats are
BibTeX,
XML,
HTML.
LaTeX is a good example of the vague boundary between
DataFormats and
ProgrammingLanguages; although it is intended (and perceived) as a data format for the specification of documents, it is in fact a
TuringComplete? programming language. This makes it a very powerful document preparation system, but makes it also very difficult to use
LaTeX documents for other purposes than translation to
PostScript?. (The
HeVeA translator achieves a fairly good translation to
HTML though.)
SDF is another example for which it is hard to decide whether it is a data format or a programming language. An
SDF specification defines the syntax of language completely declaratively. This definition can be used to generate a parser, so one could argue that an
SDF definition specifies computations.
CategoryLanguage | Contributors:
EelcoVisser