What Are [Yield, Await, In, Return] In EcmaScript Grammar

Many productions in EcmaScript are given with the following 'modifiers': [Yield, Await, In, Return] Here are a few examples: ArrayLiteral[Yield, Await]: ... ElementList[Yield,

Solution 1:

Section 5.1.5: Grammar Notation -

A production may be parameterized by a subscripted annotation of the form “[parameters]”, which may appear as a suffix to the nonterminal symbol defined by the production. “parameters” may be either a single name or a comma separated list of names. A parameterized production is shorthand for a set of productions defining all combinations of the parameter names, preceded by an underscore, appended to the parameterized nonterminal symbol. This means that:

StatementList[Return]:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement

is a convenient abbreviation for:

StatementList:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement
StatementList_Return:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement

and that:

StatementList[Return, In]:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement

is an abbreviation for:

StatementList:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement
StatementList_Return:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement
StatementList_In:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement
StatementList_Return_In:
   ReturnStatement
   ExpressionStatement

Multiple parameters produce a combinatory number of productions, not all of which are necessarily referenced in a complete grammar.

It continues from there talking about parameterizing right-hand sides, adding "opt", etc.

(When searching, don't just look for [Return] and such specifically, as they can and usually do appear in groups like [Yield, Await, Return] and [?Yield, ?Await, ?Return] as in the syntax for Block.)

Section 12.1.1: Identifiers - Static Semantics: Early Errors -

It is a Syntax Error if this production has a [Yield] parameter and StringValue of Identifier is "yield".

It is a Syntax Error if this production has an [Await] parameter and StringValue of Identifier is "await".

Section 12.10: Relational Operators -

The [In] grammar parameter is needed to avoid confusing the in operator in a relational expression with the in operator in a for statement.