Program to detect tokens in a C code

Last Updated : 20 Dec, 2025


Lexical analysis is the first phase of a compiler, also known as the scanner. Its main task is to read the source program and break it into a sequence of meaningful units called tokens. These tokens help the compiler understand the structure of the program and proceed to later phases of compilation.For Example: 

A C program is made up of different types of tokens. Each token belongs to a specific category such as keywords, identifiers, constants, string literals, operators, or symbols.

Common Types of Tokens in C

  • Keywords: Reserved words with predefined meanings
    Examples: int, for, while, if
  • Identifiers: Names given to variables, functions, or other user-defined elements
    Examples: count, sum, main
  • Constants: Fixed values that do not change during execution
    Examples: 10, 3.14, 'a'
  • Operators: Symbols used to perform operations
    Examples: +, ++, -, =
  • Separators: Symbols used to separate or organize program elements
    Examples: ,, ;, (, )

Example: For input "int a = b + 1c;", it will identify "int" as a keyword, "a" as an identifier, "=" as an operator, etc.

Approach :

  • The ides is to breaks the input string (a C code) into tokens such as keywords, identifiers, operators, integers, and real numbers.
  • It checks each token using helper functions (isKeyword, isInteger, validIdentifier, etc.) and prints its category.

Below is a program to print all the keywords, literals, valid identifiers, invalid identifiers, integer number, real number in a given C code:

C++
#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

// Returns 'true' if the character is a DELIMITER.
bool isDelimiter(char ch)
{
    if (ch == ' ' || ch == '+' || ch == '-' || ch == '*' || 
         ch == '/' || ch == ',' || ch == ';' || ch == '>' || 
         ch == '<' || ch == '=' || ch == '(' || ch == ')' || 
         ch == '[' || ch == ']' || ch == '{' || ch == '}')
        return (true);
    return (false);
}

// Returns 'true' if the character is an OPERATOR.
bool isOperator(char ch)
{
    if (ch == '+' || ch == '-' || ch == '*' || 
        ch == '/' || ch == '>' || ch == '<' || 
        ch == '=')
        return (true);
    return (false);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is a VALID IDENTIFIER.
bool validIdentifier(char* str)
{
    if (str[0] == '0' || str[0] == '1' || str[0] == '2' ||
        str[0] == '3' || str[0] == '4' || str[0] == '5' || 
        str[0] == '6' || str[0] == '7' || str[0] == '8' || 
        str[0] == '9' || isDelimiter(str[0]) == true)
        return (false);
    return (true);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is a KEYWORD.
bool isKeyword(char* str)
{
    if (!strcmp(str, "if") || !strcmp(str, "else") ||
        !strcmp(str, "while") || !strcmp(str, "do") || 
        !strcmp(str, "break") || 
         !strcmp(str, "continue") || !strcmp(str, "int")
        || !strcmp(str, "double") || !strcmp(str, "float")
        || !strcmp(str, "return") || !strcmp(str, "char")
        || !strcmp(str, "case") || !strcmp(str, "char")
        || !strcmp(str, "sizeof") || !strcmp(str, "long")
        || !strcmp(str, "short") || !strcmp(str, "typedef")
        || !strcmp(str, "switch") || !strcmp(str, "unsigned")
        || !strcmp(str, "void") || !strcmp(str, "static")
        || !strcmp(str, "struct") || !strcmp(str, "goto"))
        return (true);
    return (false);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is an INTEGER.
bool isInteger(char* str)
{
    int i, len = strlen(str);

    if (len == 0)
        return (false);
    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
        if (str[i] != '0' && str[i] != '1' && str[i] != '2'
            && str[i] != '3' && str[i] != '4' && str[i] != '5'
            && str[i] != '6' && str[i] != '7' && str[i] != '8'
            && str[i] != '9' || (str[i] == '-' && i > 0))
            return (false);
    }
    return (true);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is a REAL NUMBER.
bool isRealNumber(char* str)
{
    int i, len = strlen(str);
    bool hasDecimal = false;

    if (len == 0)
        return (false);
    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
        if (str[i] != '0' && str[i] != '1' && str[i] != '2'
            && str[i] != '3' && str[i] != '4' && str[i] != '5'
            && str[i] != '6' && str[i] != '7' && str[i] != '8'
            && str[i] != '9' && str[i] != '.' || 
            (str[i] == '-' && i > 0))
            return (false);
        if (str[i] == '.')
            hasDecimal = true;
    }
    return (hasDecimal);
}

// Extracts the SUBSTRING.
char* subString(char* str, int left, int right)
{
    int i;
    char* subStr = (char*)malloc(
                  sizeof(char) * (right - left + 2));

    for (i = left; i <= right; i++)
        subStr[i - left] = str[i];
    subStr[right - left + 1] = '\0';
    return (subStr);
}

// Parsing the input STRING.
void parse(char* str)
{
    int left = 0, right = 0;
    int len = strlen(str);

    while (right <= len && left <= right) {
        if (isDelimiter(str[right]) == false)
            right++;

        if (isDelimiter(str[right]) == true && left == right) {
            if (isOperator(str[right]) == true)
                printf("'%c' IS AN OPERATOR\n", str[right]);

            right++;
            left = right;
        } else if (isDelimiter(str[right]) == true && left != right
                   || (right == len && left != right)) {
            char* subStr = subString(str, left, right - 1);

            if (isKeyword(subStr) == true)
                printf("'%s' IS A KEYWORD\n", subStr);

            else if (isInteger(subStr) == true)
                printf("'%s' IS AN INTEGER\n", subStr);

            else if (isRealNumber(subStr) == true)
                printf("'%s' IS A REAL NUMBER\n", subStr);

            else if (validIdentifier(subStr) == true
                     && isDelimiter(str[right - 1]) == false)
                printf("'%s' IS A VALID IDENTIFIER\n", subStr);

            else if (validIdentifier(subStr) == false
                     && isDelimiter(str[right - 1]) == false)
                printf("'%s' IS NOT A VALID IDENTIFIER\n", subStr);
            left = right;
        }
    }
    return;
}

// DRIVER FUNCTION
int main()
{
     // maximum length of string is 100 here 
    char str[100] = "int a = b + 1c; ";

    parse(str); // calling the parse function

    return (0);
}
C
#include <stdbool.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

// Returns 'true' if the character is a DELIMITER.
bool isDelimiter(char ch)
{
    if (ch == ' ' || ch == '+' || ch == '-' || ch == '*' || 
        ch == '/' || ch == ',' || ch == ';' || ch == '>' || 
        ch == '<' || ch == '=' || ch == '(' || ch == ')' || 
        ch == '[' || ch == ']' || ch == '{' || ch == '}')
        return (true);
    return (false);
}

// Returns 'true' if the character is an OPERATOR.
bool isOperator(char ch)
{
    if (ch == '+' || ch == '-' || ch == '*' || 
        ch == '/' || ch == '>' || ch == '<' || 
        ch == '=')
        return (true);
    return (false);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is a VALID IDENTIFIER.
bool validIdentifier(char* str)
{
    if (str[0] == '0' || str[0] == '1' || str[0] == '2' ||
        str[0] == '3' || str[0] == '4' || str[0] == '5' || 
        str[0] == '6' || str[0] == '7' || str[0] == '8' || 
        str[0] == '9' || isDelimiter(str[0]) == true)
        return (false);
    return (true);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is a KEYWORD.
bool isKeyword(char* str)
{
    if (!strcmp(str, "if") || !strcmp(str, "else") ||
        !strcmp(str, "while") || !strcmp(str, "do") || 
        !strcmp(str, "break") || 
         !strcmp(str, "continue") || !strcmp(str, "int")
        || !strcmp(str, "double") || !strcmp(str, "float")
        || !strcmp(str, "return") || !strcmp(str, "char")
        || !strcmp(str, "case") || !strcmp(str, "char")
        || !strcmp(str, "sizeof") || !strcmp(str, "long")
        || !strcmp(str, "short") || !strcmp(str, "typedef")
        || !strcmp(str, "switch") || !strcmp(str, "unsigned")
        || !strcmp(str, "void") || !strcmp(str, "static")
        || !strcmp(str, "struct") || !strcmp(str, "goto"))
        return (true);
    return (false);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is an INTEGER.
bool isInteger(char* str)
{
    int i, len = strlen(str);

    if (len == 0)
        return (false);
    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
        if (str[i] != '0' && str[i] != '1' && str[i] != '2'
            && str[i] != '3' && str[i] != '4' && str[i] != '5'
            && str[i] != '6' && str[i] != '7' && str[i] != '8'
            && str[i] != '9' || (str[i] == '-' && i > 0))
            return (false);
    }
    return (true);
}

// Returns 'true' if the string is a REAL NUMBER.
bool isRealNumber(char* str)
{
    int i, len = strlen(str);
    bool hasDecimal = false;

    if (len == 0)
        return (false);
    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
        if (str[i] != '0' && str[i] != '1' && str[i] != '2'
            && str[i] != '3' && str[i] != '4' && str[i] != '5'
            && str[i] != '6' && str[i] != '7' && str[i] != '8'
            && str[i] != '9' && str[i] != '.' || 
            (str[i] == '-' && i > 0))
            return (false);
        if (str[i] == '.')
            hasDecimal = true;
    }
    return (hasDecimal);
}

// Extracts the SUBSTRING.
char* subString(char* str, int left, int right)
{
    int i;
    char* subStr = (char*)malloc(
                  sizeof(char) * (right - left + 2));

    for (i = left; i <= right; i++)
        subStr[i - left] = str[i];
    subStr[right - left + 1] = '\0';
    return (subStr);
}

// Parsing the input STRING.
void parse(char* str)
{
    int left = 0, right = 0;
    int len = strlen(str);

    while (right <= len && left <= right) {
        if (isDelimiter(str[right]) == false)
            right++;

        if (isDelimiter(str[right]) == true && left == right) {
            if (isOperator(str[right]) == true)
                printf("'%c' IS AN OPERATOR\n", str[right]);

            right++;
            left = right;
        } else if (isDelimiter(str[right]) == true && left != right
                   || (right == len && left != right)) {
            char* subStr = subString(str, left, right - 1);

            if (isKeyword(subStr) == true)
                printf("'%s' IS A KEYWORD\n", subStr);

            else if (isInteger(subStr) == true)
                printf("'%s' IS AN INTEGER\n", subStr);

            else if (isRealNumber(subStr) == true)
                printf("'%s' IS A REAL NUMBER\n", subStr);

            else if (validIdentifier(subStr) == true
                     && isDelimiter(str[right - 1]) == false)
                printf("'%s' IS A VALID IDENTIFIER\n", subStr);

            else if (validIdentifier(subStr) == false
                     && isDelimiter(str[right - 1]) == false)
                printf("'%s' IS NOT A VALID IDENTIFIER\n", subStr);
            left = right;
        }
    }
    return;
}

// DRIVER FUNCTION
int main()
{
     // maximum length of string is 100 here 
    char str[100] = "int a = b + 1c; ";

    parse(str); // calling the parse function

    return (0);
}
Java
import java.util.Arrays;

public class Parser {
    public static boolean isDelimiter(char ch) {
        return " \+-*/ ,;><=()\[\]{}".indexOf(ch) != -1;
    }

    public static boolean isOperator(char ch) {
        return "+\-*/><=".indexOf(ch) != -1;
    }

    public static boolean validIdentifier(String str) {
        if (str.isEmpty() || Character.isDigit(str.charAt(0)) || isDelimiter(str.charAt(0)))
            return false;
        return true;
    }

    public static boolean isKeyword(String str) {
        String[] keywords = { "if", "else", "while", "do", "break", "continue", "int", "double", "float", "return", "char", "case", "sizeof", "long", "short", "typedef", "switch", "unsigned", "void", "static", "struct", "goto" };
        return Arrays.asList(keywords).contains(str);
    }

    public static boolean isInteger(String str) {
        if (str.isEmpty())
            return false;
        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
            if (!Character.isDigit(str.charAt(i)) && !(str.charAt(i) == '-' && i == 0))
                return false;
        }
        return true;
    }

    public static boolean isRealNumber(String str) {
        if (str.isEmpty())
            return false;
        boolean hasDecimal = false;
        for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
            if (!Character.isDigit(str.charAt(i)) && str.charAt(i) != '.' && !(str.charAt(i) == '-' && i == 0))
                return false;
            if (str.charAt(i) == '.')
                hasDecimal = true;
        }
        return hasDecimal;
    }

    public static String subString(String str, int left, int right) {
        return str.substring(left, right + 1);
    }

    public static void parse(String str) {
        int left = 0, right = 0;
        int len = str.length();

        while (right <= len && left <= right) {
            if (!isDelimiter(str.charAt(right)))
                right++;

            if (isDelimiter(str.charAt(right)) && left == right) {
                if (isOperator(str.charAt(right)))
                    System.out.println("'" + str.charAt(right) + "' IS AN OPERATOR");

                right++;
                left = right;
            } else if (isDelimiter(str.charAt(right)) && left != right || (right == len && left != right)) {
                String subStr = subString(str, left, right - 1);

                if (isKeyword(subStr))
                    System.out.println("'" + subStr + "' IS A KEYWORD");

                else if (isInteger(subStr))
                    System.out.println("'" + subStr + "' IS AN INTEGER");

                else if (isRealNumber(subStr))
                    System.out.println("'" + subStr + "' IS A REAL NUMBER");

                else if (validIdentifier(subStr) && !isDelimiter(str.charAt(right - 1)))
                    System.out.println("'" + subStr + "' IS A VALID IDENTIFIER");

                else if (!validIdentifier(subStr) && !isDelimiter(str.charAt(right - 1)))
                    System.out.println("'" + subStr + "' IS NOT A VALID IDENTIFIER");

                left = right;
            }
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String str = "int a = b + 1c; ";
        parse(str);
    }
}
Python
def is_delimiter(ch):
    return ch in ' +-*/ ,;><=()\[\]{}'

def is_operator(ch):
    return ch in '+-*/><=' 

def valid_identifier(str):
    if not str or str[0].isdigit() or is_delimiter(str[0]):
        return False
    return True

def is_keyword(str):
    keywords = ["if", "else", "while", "do", "break", "continue", "int", "double", "float", "return", "char", "case", "sizeof", "long", "short", "typedef", "switch", "unsigned", "void", "static", "struct", "goto"]
    return str in keywords

def is_integer(str):
    if not str:
        return False
    for i in range(len(str)):
        if not str[i].isdigit() and not (str[i] == '-' and i == 0):
            return False
    return True

def is_real_number(str):
    if not str:
        return False
    has_decimal = False
    for i in range(len(str)):
        if not str[i].isdigit() and str[i] != '.' and not (str[i] == '-' and i == 0):
            return False
        if str[i] == '.':
            has_decimal = True
    return has_decimal

def sub_string(str, left, right):
    return str[left:right + 1]

def parse(str):
    left = 0
    right = 0
    len_str = len(str)

    while right <= len_str and left <= right:
        if not is_delimiter(str[right]):
            right += 1

        if is_delimiter(str[right]) and left == right:
            if is_operator(str[right]):
                print(f"'{str[right]}' IS AN OPERATOR")

            right += 1
            left = right
        elif is_delimiter(str[right]) and left != right or (right == len_str and left != right):
            sub_str = sub_string(str, left, right - 1)

            if is_keyword(sub_str):
                print(f"'{sub_str}' IS A KEYWORD")

            elif is_integer(sub_str):
                print(f"'{sub_str}' IS AN INTEGER")

            elif is_real_number(sub_str):
                print(f"'{sub_str}' IS A REAL NUMBER")

            elif valid_identifier(sub_str) and not is_delimiter(str[right - 1]):
                print(f"'{sub_str}' IS A VALID IDENTIFIER")

            elif not valid_identifier(sub_str) and not is_delimiter(str[right - 1]):
                print(f"'{sub_str}' IS NOT A VALID IDENTIFIER")

            left = right

if __name__ == '__main__':
    str = 'int a = b + 1c; '
    parse(str)

Output: 

'int' IS A KEYWORD
'a' IS A VALID IDENTIFIER
'=' IS AN OPERATOR
'b' IS A VALID IDENTIFIER
'+' IS AN OPERATOR
'1c' IS NOT A VALID IDENTIFIER


 

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