Delimiters Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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delimiters

[ˈdɛlɪmɪtərz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in programming

Delimiters are characters or sequences of characters used to specify the boundaries between separate, independent regions in a piece of text.

Synonyms

boundary marker, separator, terminator.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
delimiters	Used in computing and data processing to indicate boundaries within data strings or text files. In this CSV file, commas act as delimiters between values. Make sure to use the correct delimiters when parsing the data.
separator	Used to distinguish or divide elements, items, or sections in various contexts like text, numbers, or mechanical parts. Please use a semicolon as a separator in the list of emails. The separator in this machine ensures that large and small parts are sorted effectively.
boundary marker	Often used in geographical or physical contexts to signify the edge or boundary of a region or area. The fence serves as a boundary marker between the two properties. We can use the river as a natural boundary marker.
terminator	Commonly used in technology and programming to signify the end of a line, file, or process. May have a slightly negative or final connotation. The newline character acts as a line terminator in many programming languages. A null terminator indicates the end of a string in C programming.

Examples of usage

Please use commas as delimiters in the CSV file.
The curly braces {} are commonly used as delimiters in programming languages.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in linguistics

In linguistics, delimiters are symbols used to mark off individual words or phrases in a sentence.

Synonyms

indicator, marker, separation symbol.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
delimiters	Typically used in programming and data processing to denote characters or sequences of characters that separate text strings or data fields. In a CSV file, commas are used as delimiters between values. You can use different delimiters to parse the data in various formats.
marker	Often used to signify an identifiable point or reference, could be literal or metaphorical. The X on the map serves as a marker for the hidden treasure. He left a bookmark as a marker in the book where he had stopped reading.
separation symbol	Used in a technical or specialized context, similar to 'delimiters,' but less commonly. It specifies characters that separate items or sections in a structured format. In programming, the pipe (\|) is often used as a separation symbol in command-line operations. When parsing text files, you may need to define a custom separation symbol if the default ones are not suitable.

Word

Description / Examples

delimiters

Typically used in programming and data processing to denote characters or sequences of characters that separate text strings or data fields.

In a CSV file, commas are used as delimiters between values.
You can use different delimiters to parse the data in various formats.

marker

Often used to signify an identifiable point or reference, could be literal or metaphorical.

The X on the map serves as a marker for the hidden treasure.
He left a bookmark as a marker in the book where he had stopped reading.

separation symbol

Used in a technical or specialized context, similar to 'delimiters,' but less commonly. It specifies characters that separate items or sections in a structured format.

In programming, the pipe (|) is often used as a separation symbol in command-line operations.
When parsing text files, you may need to define a custom separation symbol if the default ones are not suitable.

Examples of usage

Commas and periods are common delimiters in written language.
In phonetic transcription, square brackets [] are used as delimiters for phonetic symbols.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Computer Science

In programming, common delimiters include commas, semicolons, and quotation marks, which signify the start and end of data segments.
In CSV (Comma-Separated Values) files, commas act as delimiters to separate individual data entries.
Delimiters are vital in parsing input, allowing computers to understand and organize complex data.

Linguistics

In language, delimiters are often punctuation marks like periods and commas that divide sentences and clauses to clarify meaning.
In phonetics, delimiters can indicate the boundaries between different sounds or segments in speech.

Mathematics

Delimiters play a role in mathematical expressions, where parentheses and brackets help define the order of operations.
In set notation, curly braces serve as delimiters to clearly define the elements within a specific set.

Literature

In literature, delimiters can help structure narrative forms, breaking text into chapters or sections to guide readers.
Postmodern literature often uses unconventional delimiters, such as irregular spacing or typesetting, to challenge traditional formats.

Origin of 'delimiters'

Main points about word origin

The word comes from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'to remove' and 'limit' which refers to boundaries.
Originally used in contexts like geography to define borders, it evolved into its current use in computing and linguistics.

The word 'delimiter' originated in the mid-19th century from the verb 'delimit,' which means to fix or define the limits or boundaries of something. The term has been widely adopted in various fields such as programming, linguistics, and mathematics to refer to symbols that define boundaries or separations.