Editing Compiler-compiler (section)

====The meaning of metacompiler====
In computer science, the prefix ''[[Meta (prefix)#Epistemology|meta]]'' is commonly used to mean ''about (its own category)''. For example, [[metadata]] are data that describe other data. A language that is used to describe other languages is a [[metalanguage]]. Meta may also mean [[Meta (prefix)|''on a higher level of abstraction'']]. A [[metalanguage]] operates on a higher level of abstraction in order to describe properties of a language. [[Backus–Naur form]] (BNF) is a formal [[metalanguage]] originally used to define [[ALGOL 60]]. BNF is a weak [[metalanguage]], for it describes only the [[syntax]] and says nothing about the [[semantics]] or meaning. Metaprogramming is the writing of [[computer program]]s with the ability to treat [[Computer program|program]]s as their data. A metacompiler takes as input a [[metaprogramming|metaprogram]] written in a [[metalanguage|specialized metalanguages]] (a higher level abstraction) specifically designed for the purpose of metaprogramming.<ref name="CWIC" /><ref name="TMETA" /> The output is an executable object program.

An analogy can be drawn: That as a ''C++'' compiler takes as input a ''C++'' programming language program, a ''meta''compiler takes as input a [[metaprogramming|''meta''programming]] [[metalanguage]] program.