In a C source program, the basic element recognized by the compiler is the “token.” A token is source-program text that the compiler does not break down into component elements.
Syntax
token :
keyword
identifier
constant
string-literal
operator
punctuator
Note See the introduction to Appendix A, C Language Syntax Summary, for an explanation of the ANSI syntax conventions.
The keywords, identifiers, constants, string literals, and operators described in this chapter are examples of tokens. Punctuation characters such as brackets ([ ]), braces ({ }), parentheses ( ( ) ), and commas (,) are also tokens.