An Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) is a hierarchical representation of the structure of source code in a programming language.

It is a tree-like data structure that captures the syntactic structure of the code without including all the details of the original code.

In simpler terms, an AST is a way to break down and organize code into a more manageable and understandable format.

It represents the code in a way that is easier for computers to analyze and manipulate. The AST is created by parsing the source code and breaking it down into its individual components, such as expressions, statements, and declarations.

Each component is represented as a node in the tree, with relationships between nodes defined by the syntax of the programming language. ASTs are commonly used in compilers and other tools that need to analyze or transform source code.

They provide a structured way to navigate and manipulate code, making it easier to perform tasks such as optimization, code generation, and static analysis. Overall, an Abstract Syntax Tree is a powerful tool for understanding and working with code in a more abstract and structured way.

It helps developers and tools make sense of complex codebases and enables them to perform a wide range of tasks efficiently and accurately.