AST parser

The AST parser converts source code into an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST), a hierarchical data structure essential for code analysis and transformation.

An AST parser is the core component in the syntax analysis phase of a compiler or interpreter. It processes the token stream (from the lexer) and builds the Abstract Syntax Tree (AST): the program's intermediate representation (IR). This tree strips away irrelevant details—like whitespace or semicolons—while retaining the structural and syntactic relationships of the code. Major tools rely on this precise structure for critical tasks: Babel uses it for JavaScript transpilation, ESLint runs static analysis for code quality, and TypeScript utilizes it for type checking and compilation.

https://astexplorer.net/