BNF

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

BNF
Stands forBig-name fan
Meanings2
CategoriesTexting & Internet Slang, Technology & Computing

BNF has two meanings. It stands for Big-name fan (fandom and fan fiction) or Backus-Naur form (programming).

Meanings of BNF at a glance

#BNF stands forContext
1Big-name fanTexting & Internet Slang › Fandom and Fan Fiction
2Backus-Naur formTechnology & Computing › Programming

1. Big-name fan

Texting & Internet Slang · Fandom and Fan Fiction Abbreviations

Well-known, influential member of a fandom, such as a popular fan fiction author, artist, podcaster or blogger, whose posts shape community opinion.

Example: Once a BNF reblogs your art, your notifications explode.

The term dates to science fiction fandom and early internet communities like LiveJournal. BNFs may attract both admiration and criticism, including accusations of gatekeeping. Social media "influencers" in fandom now fill a similar role.

2. Backus-Naur form

Technology & Computing · Programming Abbreviations

A notation for describing the grammar of programming languages and data formats with production rules that define each construct in terms of smaller ones. Language specifications and internet standards define their syntax with BNF or its variants.

Example: The language spec defines identifiers in BNF, so a name can't start with a digit.

Introduced by John Backus to describe ALGOL 58 and refined by Peter Naur for the ALGOL 60 report. Extended BNF (EBNF) adds repetition and optional parts, and Augmented BNF (ABNF) is used by IETF standards. Parser generators such as yacc and ANTLR accept BNF-like grammars.

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