[parsing] How to identify whether a grammar is LL(1), LR(0) or SLR(1)?

How do you identify whether a grammar is LL(1), LR(0), or SLR(1)?

Can anyone please explain it using this example, or any other example?

X ? Yz | a

Y ? bZ | e

Z ? e

This question is related to parsing grammar lr ll

The answer is


With these two steps we can check if it LL(1) or not. Both of them have to be satisfied.

1.If we have the production:A->a1|a2|a3|a4|.....|an. Then,First(a(i)) intersection First(a(j)) must be phi(empty set)[a(i)-a subscript i.]

2.For every non terminal 'A',if First(A) contains epsilon Then First(A) intersection Follow(A) must be phi(empty set).


If you have no FIRST/FIRST conflicts and no FIRST/FOLLOW conflicts, your grammar is LL(1).

An example of a FIRST/FIRST conflict:

S -> Xb | Yc
X -> a 
Y -> a 

By seeing only the first input symbol a, you cannot know whether to apply the production S -> Xb or S -> Yc, because a is in the FIRST set of both X and Y.

An example of a FIRST/FOLLOW conflict:

S -> AB 
A -> fe | epsilon 
B -> fg 

By seeing only the first input symbol f, you cannot decide whether to apply the production A -> fe or A -> epsilon, because f is in both the FIRST set of A and the FOLLOW set of A (A can be parsed as epsilon and B as f).

Notice that if you have no epsilon-productions you cannot have a FIRST/FOLLOW conflict.


LL(1) grammar is Context free unambiguous grammar which can be parsed by LL(1) parsers.

In LL(1)

  • First L stands for scanning input from Left to Right. Second L stands for Left Most Derivation. 1 stands for using one input symbol at each step.

For Checking grammar is LL(1) you can draw predictive parsing table. And if you find any multiple entries in table then you can say grammar is not LL(1).

Their is also short cut to check if the grammar is LL(1) or not . Shortcut Technique


Simple answer:A grammar is said to be an LL(1),if the associated LL(1) parsing table has atmost one production in each table entry.

Take the simple grammar A -->Aa|b.[A is non-terminal & a,b are terminals]
   then find the First and follow sets A.
    First{A}={b}.
    Follow{A}={$,a}.

    Parsing table for Our grammar.Terminals as columns and Nonterminal S as a row element.

        a            b                   $
    --------------------------------------------
 S  |               A-->a                      |
    |               A-->Aa.                    |
    -------------------------------------------- 

As [S,b] contains two Productions there is a confusion as to which rule to choose.So it is not LL(1).

Some simple checks to see whether a grammar is LL(1) or not. Check 1: The Grammar should not be left Recursive. Example: E --> E+T. is not LL(1) because it is Left recursive. Check 2: The Grammar should be Left Factored.

Left factoring is required when two or more grammar rule choices share a common prefix string. Example: S-->A+int|A.

Check 3:The Grammar should not be ambiguous.

These are some simple checks.