Syntax Errors in Scala in Scala

TL ; DR:

• Syntax errors are mistakes in the use of the Scala language, analogous to spelling or grammar mistakes in a language like English. For example:

  
  

• Omitting quotes when working with strings:

  println("Welcome!)
  

  
  

• Omitting parantheses when using the println function:

  println("Let's code!"
  

  
  

• When Scala encounters a syntax error, it immediately stops executing your code and throws a SyntaxError instead.

Full lesson:

Humans are prone to making mistakes. Humans are also typically in charge of creating computer programs. To compensate, programming languages attempt to understand and explain mistakes made in their programs.

Here are two common errors that we encounter while writing Scala code:

The syntax error:

Syntax errors are mistakes in the use of the Scala language, and are analogous to spelling or grammar mistakes in a language like English. For example, the sentence "Would you some tea?" does not make sense – it is missing a verb.

Syntax error means there is something wrong with the way your program is written. Some examples:

1. Misuse of commas when declaring a string:

var greeting = 'Hey there!"

When we run this code we'll get an error: unclosed character literal.

2. Leaving out a parantheses:

println"Hey")

When we run this code we'll get an error: not a statement.

The reference error:

A reference error occurs when the Scala interpreter sees a word it does not recognize. Some examples:

1. Misspelling a class / function name:

prntln("Hey")

When we run this code we'll get an error because prntln is not defined.

2. Using a non-existent variable / Misspelling a variable's name:

var animal = "parrot"
println(aniimal)

When we run this code we'll get an error: cannot find symbol: variable aniimal.

Assignment
Follow the Coding Tutorial and let's practice with errors!

Hint
Look at the examples above if you get stuck.