ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

SynthAxe

Okay kiddo, let's talk about syntax. Have you ever written a letter to someone or made a shopping list for your mom? Well, in order for those written things to make sense, you need to write them using the right words and in the right order. That's kind of like how syntax works in computer programming.

When a programmer writes a program, they need to use the right words (code) and put them in the right order so that the computer can understand what the program is supposed to do. This is called syntax. Just like how words need to be spelled correctly and in the proper order in a sentence for it to make sense, code needs to be written using the proper syntax for the program to work correctly.

Syntax is important because it's how a programmer communicates with computers. If the syntax is incorrect, the computer won't be able to understand what the programmer wants it to do. So remember, just like when you write a letter, it's important to use the right words in the right order when writing code.