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Oracle® Database SQL Reference 10g Release 2 (10.2) Part Number B14200-02 |
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# Backus-Naur Form Syntax

Each graphic syntax diagram in this reference is followed by a link to a text description of the graphic. The text descriptions consist of a simple variant of Backus-Naur Form (BNF) that includes the following symbols and conventions:

Symbol or Convention | Meaning
--- | ---
[ ] | Brackets enclose optional items.
{ } | Braces enclose items only one of which is required.
| | A vertical bar separates alternatives within brackets or braces.
... | Ellipsis points show that the preceding syntactic element can be repeated.
delimiters | Delimiters other than brackets, braces, vertical bars, and ellipses must be entered as shown.
boldface | Words appearing in boldface are keywords. They must be typed as shown. (Keywords are case-sensitive in some, but not all, operating systems.) Words that are not in boldface are placeholders for which you must substitute a name or value.