No programming language can solve every problem, but Java can be extended to solve a far wider range of problems through the use of parsers -- "mini-languages" that bridge the gap between humans and computers, and offer targeted solutions for specific problem domains. In Building Parsers with Java (TM), Steven John Metsker presents the first complete, start-to-finish guide to building parsers with Java. Metsker first explains what a parser is, introduces the building blocks of applied parsers, shows how to compose new parsers from existing ones; and walks step-by-step through designing, coding, and testing a working parser. Next, he presents in-depth coverage of creating Java-based parsers for a wide range of problem domains. You'll learn how to create parsers that can read elements of a data language; how to transform a grammar, ensuring the correct behavior of operators in a language; how to build arithmetic and regular expression parsers, and more. Metsker shows how to extend existing parser toolkits, and introduces a logic engine that can be used in a wide range of parsers, including both logic and query languages.