7.2 IMPLEMENTATION

7.1 THE SYMBOL TABLE

A symbol table is a data structure used by a compiler to keep track of scope/ binding information about names . This information is used in the source program to identify the various program elements, like variables , constants, procedures, and the labels of statements. The symbol table is searched every time a name is encountered in the source text. When a new name or new information about an existing name is discovered , the content of the symbol table changes. Therefore, a symbol table must have an efficient mechanism for accessing the information held in the table as well as for adding new entries to the symbol table.

For efficiency, our choice of the implementation data structure for the symbol table and the organization its contents should be stress a minimal cost when adding new entries or accessing the information on existing entries. Also, if the symbol table can grow dynamically as necessary, then it is more useful for a compiler.