Peter Naur, Danish computer scientist, astronomer, and academic (b. 1928)

Peter Naur (25 October 1928 – 3 January 2016) was a highly influential Danish computer science pioneer and a recipient of the prestigious Turing Award. His profound contributions significantly shaped the landscape of programming language design and algorithm specification, leaving an indelible mark on the field of computing.

The Prestigious Turing Award Recognition

In 2005, Peter Naur was honored with the A.M. Turing Award, often regarded as the "Nobel Prize of computing," by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). This esteemed award recognized his "fundamental contributions to programming language design and algorithm specification, in particular, the invention of the Backus-Naur Form (BNF)." This acknowledgement underscored the critical impact of his work on the theoretical and practical aspects of computer programming.

The Backus–Naur Form (BNF): A Foundation for Language Definition

Naur is most widely celebrated for his pivotal role in the development of the Backus–Naur Form (BNF). He collaborated with American computer scientist John Backus on this groundbreaking meta-syntax notation. Introduced around 1959, BNF provided a formal, concise, and unambiguous method for describing the syntax (the rules governing the structure) of programming languages. Before BNF, language syntax was often described informally using natural language, leading to ambiguities and inconsistencies. BNF revolutionized this by offering a clear, mathematical-like notation, enabling compilers and interpreters to be built more systematically and reliably. Its elegant simplicity and power meant it quickly became the standard for defining language grammars, influencing the design and implementation of nearly all subsequent programming languages, from C++ to Java and Python.

ALGOL 60: A Seminal Programming Language

Beyond BNF, Peter Naur was also a key contributor to the creation and definition of ALGOL 60 (ALGOrithmic Language 1960). ALGOL 60 was not only groundbreaking for its advanced features, such as block structure, lexical scoping, and recursive procedures, but also for being the first major programming language whose syntax was rigorously defined using BNF. This direct application of BNF to ALGOL 60 demonstrated the practical utility and necessity of formal syntax description, setting a new standard for how programming languages would be designed and documented. Its innovative concepts profoundly influenced the development of many subsequent imperative programming languages, including Pascal, C, and even indirectly, modern languages like Java, establishing a foundational legacy in computer science.

Frequently Asked Questions About Peter Naur

Who was Peter Naur?

Peter Naur was a distinguished Danish computer science pioneer and Turing Award laureate, primarily known for his fundamental contributions to programming language design and formal algorithm specification.

What is the Backus–Naur Form (BNF) and why is it important?

The Backus–Naur Form (BNF) is a formal notation developed by Naur and John Backus to precisely describe the syntax of programming languages. Its importance lies in providing an unambiguous, standard way to define language grammars, which greatly facilitated the development of compilers and laid the groundwork for modern programming language theory and design.

What was Peter Naur's role in ALGOL 60?

Peter Naur was a significant contributor to the design and specification of ALGOL 60. He was instrumental in documenting the language, notably by using the newly developed Backus–Naur Form (BNF) to formally define its syntax, making ALGOL 60 a landmark language for its clarity and structured design.

When did Peter Naur receive the Turing Award?

Peter Naur was awarded the A.M. Turing Award in 2005 for his invention of the Backus–Naur Form (BNF) and other fundamental contributions to programming language design and algorithm specification.