Lua: Syntax

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This article assumes the use of Lua 5.1. Information may not be accurate or may need revision if you are using a different version.

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Lua syntax is relatively simple due to Lua's smaller direct library of features. Most of these features are, in practice, similar to those of other languages such as C or PHP.

Chunks and blocks

A chunk is a bunch of statements one after the other in no particular hierarchy:

print("text") -- Part of a chunk
print("text") -- Part of a chunk
print("text") -- Part of a chunk
print("text") -- Part of a chunk

A block is a family of statements belonging to a function:

do
    print("Hello World") -- Part of a block
end

Variables defined within a do block are local to that block, and cannot be accessed from outside of it.