ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Van Wijngaarden transformation

Okay, imagine you have a secret code that only you and your best friend understand, but one day you want to teach more friends this code so they can also use it to communicate with you. However, you realize the code is too complicated for them to learn because there are a lot of rules and exceptions that are hard to remember.

Van Wijngaarden transformation is like simplifying that code for your friends so they can learn it easily. In computer programming, there is a type of code called "context-free grammar" which has a lot of rules and exceptions. Van Wijngaarden transformation is a way to make this complicated code simpler by breaking it down into smaller, easier to understand parts. This makes it easier for programmers to write and use this code.

Think of it like taking a big, complicated jigsaw puzzle and breaking it down into smaller, simpler pieces that are easier to put together. With the help of van Wijngaarden transformation, programmers can write more efficient and effective computer code, allowing them to create amazing programs that we all use every day!