ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Canonical S-expressions

Okay kiddo, so you know those puzzles where you have to fit different shaped blocks into corresponding holes? Well, just like those blocks, there are different ways to write code (which are like instructions for the computer to follow), but sometimes we want to make sure everyone uses the same shape so there isn't any confusion or mistakes.

So, that's where Canonical s-expressions come in. They are a special way to write code that starts with a parenthesis and has everything separated by spaces, and it always looks the same no matter what. This makes it easier for different programs and computers to read and understand the code.

Another cool thing about s-expressions is that they can represent almost anything, like numbers or words or even pictures! And because they're all in one format, different programs can use s-expressions to communicate with each other, which is really useful when you're trying to make things work together.

So, it's kind of like a special way to write code that everyone agrees on, making it easier for computers to understand and work together. Pretty neat, huh?