← Glossary
What does "parse" mean in programming?
parse is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
To read a string or byte stream and convert it into a data structure the program can work with. Common examples: JSON.parse() converts a JSON string to an object; parseInt() converts a string to a number.
Example
"const config = JSON.parse(rawString); // parses JSON text into an object"
Word forms
| Form | Type | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| parse | verb (infinitive) | To analyze and convert a string or data into a structured format | "Parse the JSON response before accessing its fields." |
| parsed | past tense | Analyzed and converted to a structured format | "The request body was parsed as JSON automatically." |
| parsing | gerund | Analyzing and converting to a structured format | "Parsing CSV files line by line is memory-efficient." |
Related terms
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