Linear syntax is a computer-programming

Computer programming

Computer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...

 term for an expression

Expression (programming)

An expression in a programming language is a combination of explicit values, constants, variables, operators, and functions that are interpreted according to the particular rules of precedence and of association for a particular programming language, which computes and then produces another value...

 that can be parsed from left to right. Linear syntax implies the ability to write code without the use of line-feed or carriage-return

Carriage return

Carriage return, often shortened to return, refers to a control character or mechanism used to start a new line of text.Originally, the term "carriage return" referred to a mechanism or lever on a typewriter...

 characters. Although the use of such characters is recommended for code readability, they are optional, as compiler

Compiler

A compiler is a computer program that transforms source code written in a programming language into another computer language...

s do not rely on them to parse and compile the code. HTML

HTML

HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....

, C

C (programming language)

C is a general-purpose computer programming language developed between 1969 and 1973 by Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories for use with the Unix operating system....

, and SQL

SQL

SQL is a programming language designed for managing data in relational database management systems ....

code are examples of languages that employ linear syntax; they all rely on commas, semicolons, and parentheses to separate code blocks.